Back to work

Had a great day today & a great week overall. Next week I begin a full time job after quite a while focusing on health & working part time. I've tried to get the house together so it's easy to maintain & spent time in the studio and had the last few Jr. Mom moments.

I'm excited to get back into a groove. I have been daydreaming about what working can bring to the table in terms of resources. This year, especially, I've noticed opportunities I've had to pass up - just came across a photo workshop in Oaxaca with Mary-Ellen Mark this summer, as a for instance. It's been at least a year since we've travelled apart from much needed visits home. I miss working trips. I'm daydreaming now & that'll do. At least I can still track friends' trips in the meantime.

Can't tell what the weather will be like this weekend, but I do know that gardening is on the list of todo's. I will do a reading or two & again, weather permitting, we'll have a beach fire. Good weekend, everyone!

Prep time

Things happen when one is ready to leave a city, if only for a short time. J & I are heading East to visit with family, an annual tradition that rocks and always satisfies. So, we had two folks to visit with today and it was a blast to hang out with both.

I'm feeling a might better, as they say (in the parlance of our times), and so picking rasberries this afternoon to load up a friend who likes berries was a treat. Likewise, it was a blast to share stories with a former/current co-worker over shorty dogs at Shortie's Coney Island tonight.

We're getting ready for the trip, menus ready and all that. Packing will begin tomorrow. I have a full week of seeing folks for astrology readings and sheer pleasure, as well as increased momentum at work. The only downside to this trip is that I'm likely to be camera shy as my fancy-super-duper camera is out of commission and too pricey (and schedule conflicting) to get fixed before we leave. Not that that's all downside, because I do tend to hide out behind the camera and am weary of that bad habit.

Seattle is rainy - a funny comment, but the first it's been for weeks. As a new gardener, I appreciate nature taking up where I can't seem to provide - the garden will have enough water & the nascent grapes and dwindling berries do appreciate it, along with me.

I'm starting Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven on the dvd player, for entertainment while I do the days dishes. J has asked for a head's up so he can join me. I tell you, it's been a nice evening.

Thanks for checking in.

A good day

J & I are having a great time these days. I've been whupped by anemia for the last year or so & with the information we have now + treatment, my behavior makes more sense to him. So we are working through our days - as we're both working at home these days. It's cooler now, but still sunny & warm. We're still getting as many raspberries out of the garden as we can eat in a day & the garden and plants are still a delight.

We're off soon, for vacation on the east coast. There's heaps to work out before we go. It'll be a blast to bring our shenanigans to the beach. My camera needs fixing, the mirror that allows me to see through the lense is blocking most of my images & I've got tomorrow to head out & get it fixed.

Crimeny it's late! I'll sign off now.

Note to self

Tulips in WA are at their peak in April, the bald eagles feed in the Skagit in Dec-Feb.

I bring this up because when my sister & brother-in-law visited this weekend, we took a drive up to Newhalem, Ross Lake area. We ended up visiting the wildlife center there & taking in the sights (and the sights are plenty, here's the pics from J & my last trip there.) . I was hoping that a few bald eagles would have lingered, even though the salmon run that feeds them ended in December. No such luck. We did see a golden eagle last year tho, pics here and below.

The visit was dreamy - we all had such a good time! It means heaps to me to have my sister see the new place & take some time to relax. She has always been incredibly caring and super responsible, sometimes overwhelming herself with obligations. There's nothing quite as popular in the world as a helpful person & a capable, helpful person is just going to be in high demand.

My brother-in-law is no slouch either. He has amazing stories about his youth in Nepal, Cyprus & Turkey - a super dry sense of humor (which I didn't get until I was well past my senseetive adolescent years) and is just a swell guy all around.

A terrific weekend to get me into the two week class on vocational astrology. I'm looking at Martha Stewart's chart and following the details that reveal the underlying desires that motivate folks to choose the work they do. Martha's chart is a great one to look at & I'll look at charts from recent readings as well, to help get into the swing of things.

Epiphany

Ideas can surface in one of two ways. One way is linear: your mind progresses in a direct fashion, one idea follows the next. The other way is more common among my pals: all of the ideas you have hit you at once & if the pattern is especially useful - Why, you've got yourself an epiphany.

In the old days, epiphany meant a manifestation of the divine (see more at m-w). I'm not making claims to the divine - but the series of events that have closed out 2005 come as close to that description as I may ever get.

The trip to Turkey was breathtaking - in both the literal & non-literal sense. Our journey was a pilgramage - to visit the tomb of Rumi and see the whirling dervishes on Shebi Arus.

It's difficult to track down the information to accompany the story of our trip. There were tourist bits, that's accounted for in the pictures I've got up now on Flickr. To see the set, go here.
I haven't had access to a computer to put up the rest of the photos - The Semahane in which we turned is represented in the photos linked to in the above paragraph, but not pictures of us turning - There are no pictures of Rumi's Tomb or the other items in the Rumi Museum - nothing from the Sema held in a giant stadium that was full both of the evenings we attended, yet anyway.

I've also not had time to post the details... which mosaic in the Hagia Sophia is Jesus the Pantocrator, which is Saint John Chrysostom. There is a kickin' Wiki entry tho that can fix my error here.

Unfortunately, I still don't have time, so this post will have to suffice. I hope to share my thoughts soon - for cryin' out loud.

Smoky...

We are on our last evening in Turkey. The hotel in Istanbul is in the old part of town and our room overlooks the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

The air here is clear - it's ra?n?ng and the call to prayer has just begun. In Turkey, smoke is everywhere - whether in Konya, where it is equal parts coal fire and tobacco - or here in Istanbul, where it is more like the will of the people - the entire land is bathed in smoke.

One of the many highlights of the trip was our visit to Çatal Hoyük. This site is a very early example of migrating people shifting their way of life to one more agricultural.

This trip has been amazing - lovely people and gorgeous sites. I feel very grateful to have been here. I have photos and will post them as soon as I can.

Mile High City

Well, we've made it to Colorado intact. Frankfurt comes next. J's getting his shoeshine on & we've just had lunch.

I keep thinking if time rolled backwards - I could easily head back to March of this year and feel right at home. 2005 has been like living with a circus, lot's of moving parts and glitter - then hella hard work for the show to go on.

Seattle was cold this morning - we were on day 3 of no central heat. So, really, it was cold. Jema is off with a friendly sitter & folks will be stopping by to see to other details & to keep the house occuppied. When we get home, in addition to the gardening we want to dive into, it'll be time to get some of the home improvements going. Welcome to home ownership.

I'm hoping to slow down or at least centralize my efforts - maybe sticking around the house - for 2006. I do have a bunch of ideas, but am eager to walk instead of hover across this path.

Time's up. Next post will be from outside the US.

tpm = tasks per minute

Not much time to type - J and I are heading out to wrap up holiday shopping and get ready for the very soon to come trip to Turkey which is almost upon us.

There are people on this year's tour that are already in Konya - we're getting love letters everyday about this trip - it's beginning to feel real. Our passports arrived this week, both needed updating. Visas are $20 when we get to the airport in Istanbul.

I thought I'd drop a line before we get too far into the day (or week).

Yesterday I got to hang out with the Women in Black at Bellevue Square Mall. It was inclement, but wonderful to spend time with Lee. I did a queenly wave as folks went by - some not so pleased to see folks on the other side of their opinion, some happy to get support for their own line of thinking. A bespoke gentleman stopped us to thank us, his demeanor was distinguished & so it was a pleasure to hear the women there accepting his thanks.

Later, when I was home again, I tried to wrestle the guest room from the boxes that linger there with not much luck. I think I managed to get a bunch of magnets that used to be on our refrigerator unboxed.

Ah! My birthday came last week! It was a lovely non-affair - musicians came over for practice (that's about the best gift I could get anytime, live music in the house) and I put out oranges & water for folks to enjoy. Also got a book on Ed Abbey and other special items.

My position at the temp job is off for the remainder of the time before Turkey and for a bit after too. I have to automate a database in excel and so am still charged with that. Seems like it'll work out just fine overall.

It snowed this week - no pics are up yet, but J got some lovely shots of the yard. I got some too... lots of camera work these days (imagine what will go up in a few weeks!)

I better wrap up, it's almost two here & there's loads to be done!

Almost decent

Whew, time sure does fly. It feels like yesterday I was contemplating leaving life in the corporate world & striving to do right before I departed. Now, it's almost 6 months later & things are revving up for our trip to Turkey.

The show was lovely, plenty of folks came by, including some peeps & my initially critical views of my own work were softened by repeat views. I'm not there yet, but if I work at it, I think I can do justice to art.

J & I went running this morning. A temperature inversion has created the typically enigmatic fog that is so attractive & J made sure to take me to a footpath through the tall cedars & other pines that dot our neighborhood. The water in the muddy grass gave a slight edge to the ethereal surroundings.

I'm wrapping up a job with a cancer ward at a local research facility. It's been very humbling to be present while others receive experimental treatment that surely causes them suffering. I try to stay modest as I move through the waiting room & to smile as I see everyone - knowing that feeling unwell, as they most likely do, would lead some of the patients to be impatient with my joy & gratitude. I imagine myself in their position & feel myself steeling my body, as though to ward off an impact. None of us know when we'll be struck down & I hope I can be graceful, but will settle for honest.

The job is to write code for excel. Fun stuff. I've learned lots to flesh out my already substantial knowledge & a new appreciation for the various layers of coding folk who automate what would inevitably be dulling routines for busy people.

I'll be glad to be done, though. I'm ready to get back to the work of unpacking. I was able to sort out the remainders of the upstairs that J hadn't gotten to this weekend. It feels more peaceful upstairs & with the reduction in space, we don't have the spartan digs that we did for years and years at the rental place.

Our home is still so enchanting. We have gone outside at night to shoot photos many times, in fact J has some awesome shots from Sunday night. The greenhouse sits vacant tho - all I can come up with in the time I have to do research on the web, describes our greenhouse as a coldframe system that is best used in the fall or spring. I'll wait until I get a clearer picture of what needs to happen to make it useable & what plants will benefit before I set up shop there.

I'll sign off now, have to get back to work. With a bit of rest, I now feel almost decent...

Hurry up and wait - the too much at once version

Spent the weekend on the road, with firm intentions of spending most of that time in Twisp. Twisp, east of the mountains. Right off of Rt. 20 and accessible by either 20 or 2, depending on the weather. The weather, as in other parts of our great nation, has been erratic. A few details: snow storm in the North Cascades closed 20 this weekend, followed by a rockslide closing I-90 both ways just a day or two later.

Five of us went, in two cars. Laura and I spent two hours at the spa before meeting up with Lee, Tricia and Laurie at noon. When it came time to vote - 2 or 20, we all chose 20 & off we went. DOT site suggested that 20 was clear, but neglected to mention the planned avalanche control closure that would start, ironically enough, just as we arrived at the turn onto 20. So, at 3pm, we retraced our steps to 2. I was a bit fussy, but game to keep going. When Tricia suggested we stop at the Bavarian Village themed town of Leavenworth for the night - I was able to drop the fuss.

My photos from the trip aren't up yet. I'll admit that in Leavenworth I took photos of the hotel pool - to my amusement, it was in a bubble and heated. The usual fodder for photos of that lovely spot are more mountainous and bavarian. I was able to get some photos of the taxidermied deer & bear in the local Twisp grocery store too, but my batteries were drained by the time we got to the cabin. So no aspen and snowfall, no beaver dam or playing in the snow...

With the night's stay at Leavenworth, it took us a nice, round 24 hours to reach the cabin. We had a blast over the weekend - I brought my canvases for this week's show opening & got up to the usual hijinks with the girls. 'Course, time to go came too soon & after leaving at noon on Sunday, Laura and I were pleased that we got to the pass so quickly. That pleasure was shortlived tho... the final tally for this (typically 4.5hr) trip came to a rousing 7 hrs. The best was that when we got home, I didn't have the right keys to get into the house.

J was at the last of the Earshot Jazz shows & I missed him since our trip home took so long. Laura left a message on his cell phone for me - mine was in the house. I was so pent up from spending too much time idling & so I turned down Laura's offer to come with her to her place. I could get into the garage & I was sure that something would shake loose & I'd be able to enjoy the evening. That said, I did ask her to ask J to come on home, the sooner the better.

I was fussy now, but determined to ride out the night. I started unpacking the many boxes in the garage (which I could get into), noticing that J busted butt this weekend. I stubbornly tried to move my flatfiles on my own, earning myself a sore hip & shoulder this morning. I swept the patio free of leaves, which I deposited on the lawn (couldn't find any bags in the garage). I manhandled the catdoor and tried anything I could find to get me in the house.

Time passed.

I sat on the front porch, debated painting in my non-painting clothes and waited.

A little more time passed.

Ok, really, a lot of time passed. J came home at 11:30 and parked behind me. I don't think he was expecting to see me pop up in front of him. Talk about a sight for sore eyeballs. I was really pleased to see him. He got through the stories of the night, with my story tumbling out at the same time & we walked around inside the house - with him showing me what he'd done.

Nothing is quite as sweet as knowing that at some point, you'll be clean and cozy and wrapped up in quilts after being cold-ish, alone (even when you want that) and locked out. We talked and talked, catching up on the weekend and the grind that is coming for us in this week. Then, I got to sleep.

There's an astrological configuration right now that is all about hurry up and wait & it'll be in effect through the 5th of Dec. In fact, things are likely to get more confusing and less clear in just the next week, through the end of the month. For everyone, no kidding.

The funny thing about this weekend is that, with all of the blocked bits, I only barely got a sense of the frustration J's been dealing with lately. I can't even think of the rest of the folks I know. Haven't asked anyone, but I'll wager I'm not the only one thinking things could go a bit smoother.

Well, I should wrap up now. I'm in an internet cafe, our wireless is out at the house. Of course, we could make that a priority - but, um, that's so far down on our list it's not funny. So the periodic entries will be sparse-ish.

This week'll be a complete bear. I wish y'all luck if you'd do me the same courtesy.

Packing up

Next on the agenda - a weekend of moving. We got a place. It's a done deal now.

I've been packing my art storage space all night. I'm a procrastinator for starters, but this packing has been a doozy. I have enough time, but still seem to stress the same amount. I guess it takes practice to calm down around such a big change.

We're wrapping up the packing portion of this weekend tomorrow night. I've pulled ten more boxes into the basement - I hope that by rallying all of the boxes, I'll feel more motivated to load them up if there are enough for everything. There's still heaps of framed and unframed work to wrangle, but I guess that will be the next big hurdle.

Got to catch up with family over the weekend. It was very fun, very rainy & very much an outdoor wedding. I heard that my sister fell ill Monday and am rooting for her to get better. We'll know more on Friday about what happens next.

I should get back to those boxes...

More pics available

Diablo Lake pics are up. We had a great time, after a few initial discussions about who wanted to camp when and where and what we wanted to do. The campsite was peaceful and beautiful, we'll go back a bunch of times, I'm wagering.

Everywhere we went, we were traveling alongside folks taking much fuller advantage of the beauty of the North Cascades, lots of fishermen, hikers, folks with canoes, etc. Our car looked way less utilitarian compared to others loaded down with all manner of mountain appropriate equipment.

Even without crampons or a tent that could hang on a cliffside, we were able to enjoy the mountain range, the clean air and critters. We were beset, of course, by stellar jays and douglas squirrels, the latter chiding us as they do when we were eating (not sharing) and when we were putting food away.

It rained almost the entire time, which really put me off, but once the tent was up and we were in it, it was obvious that the rain was falling on the trees mainly and hardly at all on us. Our one hike along the river was easy and dry, even though we could hear the rain almost the whole time.

Diablo lake, Ross lake are both strikingly jade/turqouis colored -- due to the rock "flour" found in the water. The sunbreaks were very bright and made it tougher to capture that color, but it was still amazing to shoot.

Fall-ish

I saw a rattlesnake, last week, in Ashland, Oregon. I took a road trip, spent a lot of time being quiet and painted. Fun stuff.

Usually through this time of year, I'm enjoying the increasing warmth that is the norm in Seattle. A high school football team hollers out practice across the way from us - which appears to be a herald of this seasons unusually cool temperatures.

J and I are heading out to see the Brothers Grimm tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing what Terry Gilliam has done with this tale. Also, it's a story about story tellers, who wants to miss out on that?

Couldn't wait

Went through May photos & ended up posting them here:


We saw a documentary on the Minutemen tonight, We Jam Econo. I have a distinct memory of seeing them in DC, but if D.Boone died in 1985, I'd just be one year out of high school. Google has been no help at all in backing up my memory. Anyway, it was good to see them - just like that crazy Flaming Lips movie was good to see.

Told folks at work today that I was leaving. Tough to do. Lots of good stuff going on & so I better make this attempt at a career shift worth it. Good people at work. That's not often the case.

Time to hit the hay.

Finding breadcrumbs

Well, we've been home for a week and I feel our particular version of normalcy returning. All of the big events of the last few weeks have had me churning in the low waves, like the powerful waves of N.C.'s shorelines. I've laughed and cried & been irresponsible & hospitable. I've been amazed at the folks I've seen at their highs & lows.

Jason and I started the celebration for our anniversary last night. It didn't quite take, so we'll keep celebrating that fine day until we feel it maps to our feelings for each other. That's a best case scenario & I'm glad to have that linger for as long as necessary.

My Dad is either in the hospital or back home, will have to check in this weekend. I've kept up with him via phone & wish him the best of luck for his heart surgery. He's certainly been a blessing to talk with.

Work has hit the meat of the work we need to accomplish before the new fiscal year starts. That's a huge accomplishment in itself & I try not to think about how much we are asking hundreds of people to change their view of what they do -- focusing instead on the value of the plans we've been making for the last several months. It's maybe the largest project I've worked on & I'm determined to see it through as best I can.

Zikr hit me where I live & helped me get synched while feeling the most vulnerable to my feelings. The people I got to met & host were beyond lovely - music means so much to me & we were able to hear music throughout the entire weekend, in and outside of our prayer circle.

The wedding we attended surpassed any I've seen before, in terms of beauty and concerted effort. I have high hopes for this new family configuration & will think often of where I'm at in this broad group, of what I can contribute from where I am.

Home is calling me. I have coordinated a new office, where I sit often with my cat & look into the future, a future where I am doing so much more of what I set out to do 5-10 years ago, which is honoring my desire to do art, to do astrology as a profession. Being at home with Jason is always a revelation & the idea that we'll be spending more time together as summer raises it's sleepy head in Seattle is something I have tucked away, like a wish, like a dream.

Today, I'm heading in to finish a few meetings & join co-workers at the new Star Wars movie. I'm completely tired, could sleep for days, but happy to share this kind of time with people who clearly put their hearts & minds into the work that they do.

Tonight, we're looking for photo ops, or I'll stick around the homestead, culling the best photos from the 500 or so I've taken in the past few weeks. An initial review looks promising, but that's not unusual. I'm curious to see the whole cloth of what I've documented & not the super-personal view I usually take -- one, frankly, that allows me to see all but the most obscured photo as a success.

Stunning things from this last few weeks:

The smile on Stephen's face during the vows & when he first danced with his new bride

Connie's attentiveness to me throughout the wedding

Nathan's good cheer and better questions

Bill, in general & in specific

Frances' office

Amy & Jennifer rehearsing vows with their hair in curls and big grins on their faces

Jason & Rachel's toasts to the new couple

My dad saying how proud he is of me & asking me to be who I am, knowing that I am a good person

My mom, totally

Seeing John & Tish, Tish's arm on me -- comforting me during a fit

Dave & Jilda and all that they do (kick ass accordian tape being the most recent hoot)

Don and all of his support, while I figure out what support I need

Matt, for all of the encouragement he gives for me to grow as a biz professional

Jessica, for her thoroughness and good cheer

Andrew, for his accessibility and willingness to address issues

Peter & Courtney,`for their unwavering vision

Justin, for his questions and persistence

Molly, Jason and Shannon -- who do consistently wonderful work & who never shy away from doing more.

Wes, for not giving up

Jason, for his steadfastness and high expectations of me

My sisters, one and all -- sisters are fabulous to have & I don't see a cap for that benefit

Jema -- for being my familiar & for purring loudly in her 15th year, to make her happy, I'd change quite a bit.

Michael, Tsukina & Ezekial, for gently and joyfully entering my heart and not letting me retreat from that lovely contact

Maile, for her incredible spirit and determination

Jelal, for his bottomless generosity and clear sight

Drew and Alex, for their openness and for love

Pam, for her ongoing inspiration and for modeling a life well led

for you reading this

for a life that showers me with the realization of that aching gratitude and the myriad ways it occurs to me to express it.

Back that thang up

We're home from N.C., after a beautiful wedding, with beautiful bride & groom. I wish them the best, from the bottom of my heart!

Jason is playing a cd he's preparing for one of my four favorite nieces (there are three favorite nephews, for those interested in keeping track). Paul Rucker's elegant composition fills the air of our home.

I got to see my mom, sister & brother-in-law - always a treat, even in my distracted state at the wedding & reception. The guest list was replete with Bennett's, Benditz', Rogers & more, which made for a non-stop (and too little sleep) weekend. We all clean up beautifully, which I'll be poring over in photograph form this week.

It's chilly in Seattle, no 80+ degree weather to saturate my very fair skin. I missed the photo of the osprey that I wanted to take, but am left with sun in my hair and skin, so can't really complain.

Looks like the world went on without us. A confusing retraction from Newsweek greeted me as I read through the blogs I regular keep track of. Either we (US) did or didn't descecrate the Quran via the creative interrogation techniques at Abu Graib. Newsweek reported the rumor, that the rumor is the cause of the riots. And now they are retracting. My head spins with the kow-towing to the current administration. Call me nutty, but blaming the media seems like the party foul here, not the media itself.

Ok, looks like it's back to work for me. I've missed my co-workers & can't wait to see what this week brings.

Onward.

Heading out to NC tonight. We're going to my bro-in-law's wedding. I'm jazzed, it'll be so much fun to see family & have a party.

No word from Dad yet, I think it'll be pretty quiet around his condition until after the operation.

This week at work has been considerably better. Lots of details fleshed out about how to work together. Definitely the best team I've worked with in my career, thus far.