213/366 Happy!

I've been working on a local campaign for a friend of mine -- and tonight he won the primary.  It was very exciting!

212/366 Chocolate milk and little umbrellas

Dark chocolate almond milk... like drinking melted chocolate ice cream.  Adding the umbrella straw just makes me smile.

This is me.
Drinking dessert.
Before supper.
Now You Workshop
Summer 2012
Week 4: Whimsy

211/366 Descriptives of me

I almost had to erase "patient" because my husband was taking so long in the bathroom.

This is me.
Fresh out of the shower.
Wearing my husband's robe.
And having fun with a dry erase marker.
Now You Workshop
Summer 2012
Week 3: Reflections

210/366 "Americans will put up with about anything provided it doesn't block traffic." ~ Dan Rather

My son's car broke down late this afternoon in the middle of a very busy road.  I met him at his car as we waited for the tow truck to come.  It always amazes me how many people will honk at you when your car is broken down.  After a little bit, we were able to get the car moved safely to a parking lot to continue the wait.

While we continued the wait, we sat in my car enjoying the AC and listening to a radio station that plays songs from the 70s and 80s.  When "Xanadu" came on, I turned it up loud -- because really, you can't listen to "Xanadu" quietly.  My son just shook his head and proclaimed that it was "like listening to mayonnaise in a jar."

Oh, he is a funny one.

This is me with my son.
Enjoying being needed for a moment.
Reflected in the hood of his moody car.
Now You Workshop
Summer 2012

Week 3: Reflections

209/366 Fitting in v. Belonging

I've been reading a book by Brene Brown called The Gifts of Imperfection."  Before this morning, I would have thought that fitting in and belonging had very similar meanings.  But listen to what Brown says:

"Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be to be accepted.  Belonging, on the other hand, doesn't require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are."

I need to work on belonging more and fitting in less.  Wouldn't it be awesome if we taught our children the same?

This is me.
Standing in the rain.
Thinking about how to quit fitting in.
Now You
Summer 2012
Week 3: Reflections

208/366 "Work harder to appreciate your ordinary day." ~ Gretchin Rubin

A quick picture snapped on the way to work this morning.  I love my new job as the assistant principal and I find that I am looking forward to going to work more than I have in years.  If I had known that taking a step back would be so liberating, I would have done it a couple of years ago.

After the announcements were made this past spring, several people called, emailed, and talked to me about how brave it was for me to step back.  And to think that I was worried that it would be seen as a cowardly move.  Now I realize that I faced my unhappiness and I did something about it.

I'm so much happier moving back to the assistant principal's position than I was when I was named the principal.  Ahhhh.....

207/366 Reflections of a zealot

After work, I hurried to the vet to pick up Mili.  She has an ear infection and she wants to scratch her ears in the worst way.  Her gimpy back legs just won't cooperate.

As soon as I got in, I rushed to get changed into my running clothes.  Most of my runs are in the very early morning.  Wednesdays are different because I meet a friend after work at a local track so that we can work on speed work.

I snapped this picture right after I got dressed.

My husband and his business partner were discussing work when I came out to grab my keys.
"Do you know that it is 100 degrees (38 for my Celsius friends) out there?"

Actually, I had checked and I let them know that it was really only 98 degrees (37 Celsius).  I didn't say anything about the 105 heat index (41 Celsius).

They don't understand that we really don't set lofty goals.  In fact, our main goal in the summer is this: Try not to die.

This is me.
And my reflections in the bathroom mirrors.
Ready to not die.
Now You Workshop
Summer 2012
This week's focus: Reflections

206/366 The Mysterious Mirror

My husband painted the signage and the faces on this mirror in our backyard several years ago.  We've not made one single dime -- but I still think it is cool!

This is me.
Peeking into the mysterious mirror.
Not paying.
Now You Workshop
Summer 2012
Week 3: Reflections

205/366 Build me up butter-pup

A great day at work.  A great visit with my mother and my sister (I LOVE my mother and sister).  And finally home to a great home cooked meal by the man (pizza!).

Then I looked up the Macro Monday theme and it was "Make Me Smile."  Fun!

What a happy day!

204/366 Try

I have some little action cards that I cut out of my "Live Out Loud" book.  You can pick one as a suggestion of what to do. Today, I picked one.

TRY it said.

And I did try.

After I tried, I took a nap.

This was a great Sunday!

203/366 "I love everything about her." ~ Dodie

My husband and I went to visit a friend who has two wonderful little girls -- 4 years and 4 months.  A lot of pictures ensued.  Bikes were rode, swings were swung and there was a little jumping on the bed.

When I asked Dodie what she loved best about her sister, she answered, "I love everything about her."

That is one fantastic big sister!

202/366 How did they know?

On my run this morning, I saw this sign in the grass. Afterwards, I did a much better job bending my knees.

This is me.
Standing by a random yet meaningful sign.
Causing the construction workers to stop and stare.
Now You Workshop
Summer 2012

201/366 Rainy Afternoon

I love the way the rain perks up the flowers and makes everything so green and lush again.

200/366 A new beginning

Today was my first day on the job at my new school in my new position.  It was a great day!

I think it is going to be an awesome school year!

199/366 Last day of summer

Tomorrow I go back to work.  Summer was wonderful and went by at a ridiculously fast speed.  It is still several weeks away before the students arrive but, oh, how I wish I had just one more week to relax and play.

I did my best to make today really count.  I ran.  I watered the garden.  I rode my bike (and I got pooped on by a bird -- lucky!).  I met my sister and mother for a movie and dinner.

Now my clothes are laid out for tomorrow and my lunch is packed.

This is me.
Rooted to the chair.
After running and biking.
Now You Workshop
Summer 2012
This weeks focus: Roots and Wings

198/366 Let's take a moment to idolize my favorite part of supper

I should probably dedicate this picture to the world's most awesome niece who taught me how to cook Brussel sprouts.  Before I just thought they were meh.  Now I can embarrass myself eating them.

With the roasted garlic on them, it is a good thing that the man eats them, too.  We probably reek of garlic.

~~Served with lemon braised tofu and an orzo pepper salad

197/366 Light in the yard

For a moment, it was raining in the front yard but not in the backyard.  I quickly grabbed my camera and ran outside to see if I could capture where the line of rain began -- but it had already stopped.  Instead, I found the most incredible sunlight.

196/366 One giant step

It really isn't that big of a step unless you are a short-legged dog with a bad back who just won't use the ramp on occasions.

Mili usually uses the ramp to help her up and down this step but sometimes.... I think just might be a little stubborn.

195/366 Home sweet home

The vacation with friends was fun but right now, I am one tired girl.  There is just nothing better than sleeping in your own bed.

194/366 "Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one." ~ Dr. Seuss

Another fun day was had with friends in Florida.

193/366 Boo-ya!

The three year old at the bed and breakfast is my new best friend.

Isn't she bee-you-tee-ful?

192/366 The bed and breakfast

My husband and I are meeting friends in St. Petersburg for a couple of nights.  We decided to go down a day early and spend time together.

We went for a walk on the beach, a trip to a quant and wonderful Italian grocery store, a couple of walks around downtown, and dinner at a funky tapas restaurant.

And the bed and breakfast we are staying in is so fabulous!  The owners are the nicest people in the world and they have two adorable kids.  Plus, we are staying in room 13 -- and for some reason that just makes me happy!  I love lucky 13!

191/366 It was a super day

And it was a busy day -- running errands, doing laundry, packing, getting a pedicure, and going to dinner with friends.  Plus, I got to spend a couple of hours with my little friend, Ray.

He was an awesome superman!

Tomorrow, the man and I are going to the beach for a few days.  I'm so excited!

190/366 Poolside

Got to hang out with friends and some adult beverages by the pool today.

Ah.... I love summertime!

189/366 "Life is the flower for which love is the honey." ~ Victor Hugo

Spent the day helping the man on a catering job.  I love the happiness at weddings!

188/366 Fence Friday - Lensbaby Style

On my run this morning, I passed this fence and noticed the lone flower sticking up.  It made me really happy to know that I had put my camera in the car.

On my way back to the car, I was a little lost in thought as I listened to my audiobook (The End of the Affair -- Colin Firth is reading it... LOVE!), when I noticed a dollar on the ground.  It turned out to be a twenty dollar bill!

Sweet!  This morning's run really paid off (pun intended).

187/366 Bokeh tree

Earlier today, before running errands... before cooking and cleaning for the birthday dinner for my mother... I found a bokeh tree in the backyard.

I think I've finally decided that the Lensbaby Muse is best used on still objects.  I'm learning still -- but happy with the efforts today.

186/366 Fashionista

I wonder at what point this lady said to herself, "Hey, I think I'll just wear this flag like a strapless dress.  Oh, and this bandana matches, too."

Or perhaps there was no thought to this outfit at all.

Fascinating stuff, eh?

Still objects are a challenge with the Lensbaby lens.  Moving objects are like trying to eat soup with chopsticks.  Dang this lens is hard...

185/366 Foraging

Apparently the dog has been eating some of the tomatoes.  This might explain the random tomato plants that pop up in other parts of the yard.

She thinks carrots and peppers are a treat.  I love this quirky dog!

For the rest of this week, I am making myself learn how to use the Lensbaby lens.  Just like a kid wanting the toys from Christmas commercials, I just had to have this lens.  It has turned out to be the most challenging lens I've ever worked with. I remain optimistic...

184/366 "Books are the ever burning lamps of accumulated wisdom." ~ George William Curtis

The Macro Monday theme on Flickr today was Lamps.  Not a complicated theme -- but leave it to me to change that.

Several weeks ago, I found this link about how to hollow out a light bulb.  I saved it as a project for another day.  When I saw the lamp theme (and oh how I love a theme to help me think of something... anything... for a photograph), I knew I had the chance to use my hollowed out bulb idea.

Any project that involves power tools, goggles, and gloves = awesome fun!  Thanks to the man for helping me with the drilling.

Truthfully, I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with the hollowed out bulb but why let that get in the way of power tools?  After the bulb was sufficiently hollow (so much harder to do than the website lets you think), I set out to take some pictures.

Thinking of this quote, I grabbed some little books and then strung up some lights for some bokeh in the background.  I carefully set the bulb on the book and took one picture.

One picture is all I took.  It was at that moment that I spazzed out about the dog's incessant barking and I jumped up to fuss at her.  The bulb crashed off the books and broke.  I could just cry on your shoulder...

That was a lot of work for one picture.  One darn picture.

Maybe I'll hollow out another bulb on another day.  Today, I am going to make do with one picture.

183/366 Husband Love

This was the note I found in the bathroom after my long run this morning.

My husband is the best!