The View

Remember that old saying about not saying anything at all if it wasn't nice?

I find it the easiest thing in the world to ignore my blog at times. Because I like sharing good news and if there hasn't been much, I pull back. I think I may be a turtle with my head in the shell. Except without the "pond smell".

The lungs are turds. They've been turds. They continue to be turds.

And that's all I have to say about my stupid lungs.

How are things in your world? Are you ready for the holidays?

Do tell! I shall live vicariously through your good news!

Precious

• My daughters, all three of them
• Ben in all his newborn glory
• My goofball dad
• my stepmom (who stopped cleaning long enough to have her picture taken)

Some things are just so precious...

These are the MOST precious...

Just sayin.

The Auntie/Niece Thing

Yesterday was The Old Goat's birthday. We had a party. When not playing with my grandchildren, I love to photograph them. Baby Alice adores K2. It's mutual. Last night they had a 'girl time' during Alice's belly time.

I almost sprained a knee getting over there to capture this...

I think they're kindred spirits!

AG out!

Marriage... and Valentine's Day

Here we are again.

Another Valentine's Day.

It often leaves TOG (The Old Goat) and I a bit at a loss to deal with the huge expectations surrounding the love fest.

Celebrate love?

Seriously?

For real?

Don't get us wrong. We love each other. But it's not something so fragile or unacknowledged that we need a day of celebration or everything will collapse in a heap of divorce papers.

The love we have for each other has been forged over years of marriage including bad dinners, busted budgets, raising 3 children (one with autism), changing careers, health issues, stubborn arguments and multiple instances of reaffirming that we did indeed want to remain in love and together for the long haul.... in spite of the fact that neither of us is the same person the other fell in love with so many years ago.

And you want me to buy him a Hallmark card?

Certainly.

As soon as I find one that encapsulates what he means to me. I gave up looking for that card long ago. And so did he.

It was so much more meaningful that he took a few extra moments this morning to sort through the sourdough turnovers I made last night looking for the perfect one to take for his lunch. Why? Because he's going to showcase it in front of his co-workers so they'll see how lucky he is to be married to me. You can't get that kind of feel good from a $2.00 card with a big red heart on it.

And for goodness sake, don't even think about sending me roses!

AG out!

Light Speed!

It can't be just me...

If I make the observation that my life is moving at light speed, I'm sure that other people must feel the same way. Right?

[at this point, she needs the reassurance, just nod]

There's so much happening at work in terms of funding.... technology... event planning... It's crazy I tell you!

There's a great deal happening at home too. From K3's final prcedures to planning for our trip, to trying to find the time to squeeze in a lunch date with a dear friend.

In all the hub bub (I love that word) my poor little blog is coming in a pathetic last place. And that's just the way it will have to be for now.

The good news is, I'm getting some help at work. My boss has engaged someone under contract to work on my PR stuff. I'm so glad she's there, I could just spit. I met with her Monday and she seems quite competent. Which gives me hope, because at this point, if I had to supervise someone that needed their hand held, I think I would weep tears of desperation!

Now, you tell me how crazy things are in your world! Go!

Lucky

I've decided that I must be luckiest person in the world.

To see this sight on a winter morning as you get on the freeway is amazing.

I'm so lucky to live in a world with such beauty.

Does everyone else on the freeway stop to look? Do they catch their breath? Soak in the warmth? Absorb the energy?

Yes. I'm a lucky person.

Lucky to be blessed with friends and family...

Work that matters...

And the ability to appreciate it all.

Wishing you a lovely Friday!

AG out!

Ghosting

Before we left Canada Sunday morning, we drove down by the water. It was quiet and foggy and we were in that moment where we were delaying our departure, not wanting to leave and yet knowing we had to get going if we wanted to make the early ferry...

As we sat talking about all the times we've walked along this road, spotted seals in the water and leaped from rock to rock at low tide, we were both surprised to see this misty shape...

A moment later, we can see it's a ship... looking ghostly in the fog. And perhaps we were ghostly as well... no longer really 'there' and already moving on to the next adventure.

AG out!

For those wishing to read the concert review, you can find it under the Living with Asthma tab! Or you can click here.

Buddy Boy

Three weeks ago, our semi feral cat, Boy, suffered an attack by a larger animal. We were scared that we would lose him, especially after seeing the xrays at the vet hospital. When we brought him home, we barely dared to hope that he might survive 24 hours, much less survive... period. Once he was over the initial hump, we continued to be concerned about his hind legs recovering full function. He did not move well at all, even into the second week after the attack.

Thanks to the quality care he got at the vet hospital, the skilled nursing from K2 and the good wishes from Blog Land, particularly Jack and Rose, Buddy Boy is alive and well. He still has some scaring on his hind legs and tummy, and some fears about leaving the house, but he has made an amazing recovery.

Respectfully submitted...

AG out!

yes... I figured out how to shoot video on my D90!

A celebration of sorts

I've been putting it off... not because I thought I would "jinx" it, but because I wanted to be sure before I went public.

My asthma reared it's ugly head 7 years ago. From the first ugly, out-of-control year on, two things have been true:

1. I will be sick in the fall. Sometime after school starts and no later than November, the lungs will go on hiatus and require mass amounts of drugs to get their groove back.
2. I will be sick in the spring. Something will happen between February and May that will set the lungs off and again... mass quanities of drugs will be required to get back on the right track.

It's June.

Nothing has happened.

No sudden drop of breathing scores

No slow downward spiral...

I'm not sick.

I haven't been sick since November.

It doesn't feel like I'm going to be sick.

All is quiet on the lung front.

Yeah, I still have tweaky lungs that freak out at smells and odors, but they haven't taken their traditional dive that requires prolonged treatment. They've been remarkably well behaved.

I know it doesn't sound like a big deal... but it's huge to me. To make it through spring without taking all the steroids... priceless!

Pardon me while I do a happy dance!

As you were...

AG out!

PS ~ What would you celebrate today?

The View

The view looking south from the tip of Vancouver Island is nothing short of amazing. I've shot it in all sorts of weather; summer, spring and winter and I never tire of it. The Olympic Mountains of Washington State make a fabulous backdrop to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

I think the cloud above looks like a tornado!

The weather was extraordinary and TOG and K3 loved exploring the rocks and tidal pools.

They look so tiny out there!

I think K3 was looking for critters in the rocks.

Barnacles...Not as exciting as seeing fiddler crabs, but we'll take what we can get!

TOG was really hoping to see seals. Although we saw some on the ferry ride, they didn't stop by during this visit.

The weather on this holiday weekend is blah. In Seattle speak, "we'll be lucky if it doesn't rain"... and rain... and rain...

Since TOG is working, I'll be looking at these shots over the weekend and remembering what a lovely time we had. It just doesn't get any better than this!

What are your plans for the weekend?

AG out!