Big fluffy snow. That's what I think of when I think of winter and that's what we're getting today. When I took Zeke for a walk I had time to think all sorts of thoughts and now I'm sharing them with you.
I know some people don't like winter, or snow, but I really do enjoy it. People say that it's the "gray" of winter that they don't like, and I pondered that a bit while I was walking. With the snow falling (I'm talking big flakes, like in a snow globe), the world was even more grayer than usual, but I found it beautiful. The paradox of sound being muffled by the snow on the ground, yet being carried to me from far away by falling flakes is truly thought-provoking. So I kept thinking...
Yes, I think a lot. I'm an only child, what do you expect!?
I went back to the "gray" argument and I found a way to turn it on its head. Yes, when you look out at the world in general today, it's gray. But if you look closer, or deeper, you see the bursts of color that abound. Surrounded by such a stark landscape these colors have a chance to shine, to be noticed when they would usually just be seen as background. The muting of color, of sound, of light - that also gives you time to clear your head and focus. That's what winter can do for you: it can erase the distractions that are ever-present in the over-stimulated sights and sounds of our lives and allow you to clear your mind and focus on the present.
So what did I do with my newfound focus? I tried to catch snowflakes on my tongue! (Zeke has a different method, when he's jogging he opens his mouth and drags the bottom of his jaw through the snow...to each his own!) This always reminds me of my Grandma Peggy. I was walking with her one day and she had me stop as we both tried to catch snowflakes on our tongue. It's one of my favorite memories of her and one that comes back to me every winter.
My task to you is simple: Clear the clutter and take time to enjoy the little things. Then I want you to take it one step further and start making cherished memories with loved ones...memories that they will recall with a smile, even when you're not around.
Future Moneymakers...or something
First of all, you may have noticed the Book List on the left. Since subbing leaves me with some free time during the day, I've been reading more lately. When I come across something worthwhile, I'll throw the title up there. I'm also looking for suggestions, so if you have a book that you thought was interesting, send me the info along. Libraries ROCK!
I'm also including a list of ideas that I have for future inventions/innovations. I think that it's worth mentioning that I thought of the picture frame with memory card WAY before it even started appearing on the market. However, I usually forget these ideas (I already forgot some that I wanted to include here) and will probably never do anything with them. If you have the desire to help me develop any of these ideas, let me know!
Here's what I'm thinking of lately:
Combination Long Lighter/Scissors (maybe with little drawer for discarded wicks) - this is good for all those times you go to light a candle in another room only to realize that you need to trim the wick first (they burn cleaner with short wicks) so then you have to go back in the other room to find scissors. I know, minor inconvenience but inventions have been successful on less hardships.
Meal Planning on Website - This could be a tie-in for a site like AllRecipes. You would put in the recipes and what time you want dinner to be done and it would break down your meal into a spreadsheet that would list all ingredients needed (for all recipes combined) on the side and then would have a timeline for starting/prepping food and when food needs to go in oven or whatever.
Baby Looks Like... - Could tie in to one of the many baby/parenting sites. This would be similar to the "hot or not" concept of sites. People could upload a picture of their baby/child as well as a pic of each of the parents. Then people would have a list of things and they would choose (maybe a scale of 1-10) if it has Dad's eyes or Mom's nose (or just pick middle for not sure) and then they could also pick an overall "Like Mom" or "Like Dad"
Battery Converter Plug for Lamp - Ever want a lamp in the middle of the room but don't want to run the cord across half of your floor? This would be the solution! It would use battery power and you could plug a lamp into it for a power source (could also have room to wrap/store cord inside of the little power pod)
Well, those are the ideas I have now. Maybe some day I'll find a way to make them come to fruition...maybe with your help!
I'm also including a list of ideas that I have for future inventions/innovations. I think that it's worth mentioning that I thought of the picture frame with memory card WAY before it even started appearing on the market. However, I usually forget these ideas (I already forgot some that I wanted to include here) and will probably never do anything with them. If you have the desire to help me develop any of these ideas, let me know!
Here's what I'm thinking of lately:
Combination Long Lighter/Scissors (maybe with little drawer for discarded wicks) - this is good for all those times you go to light a candle in another room only to realize that you need to trim the wick first (they burn cleaner with short wicks) so then you have to go back in the other room to find scissors. I know, minor inconvenience but inventions have been successful on less hardships.
Meal Planning on Website - This could be a tie-in for a site like AllRecipes. You would put in the recipes and what time you want dinner to be done and it would break down your meal into a spreadsheet that would list all ingredients needed (for all recipes combined) on the side and then would have a timeline for starting/prepping food and when food needs to go in oven or whatever.
Baby Looks Like... - Could tie in to one of the many baby/parenting sites. This would be similar to the "hot or not" concept of sites. People could upload a picture of their baby/child as well as a pic of each of the parents. Then people would have a list of things and they would choose (maybe a scale of 1-10) if it has Dad's eyes or Mom's nose (or just pick middle for not sure) and then they could also pick an overall "Like Mom" or "Like Dad"
Battery Converter Plug for Lamp - Ever want a lamp in the middle of the room but don't want to run the cord across half of your floor? This would be the solution! It would use battery power and you could plug a lamp into it for a power source (could also have room to wrap/store cord inside of the little power pod)
Well, those are the ideas I have now. Maybe some day I'll find a way to make them come to fruition...maybe with your help!
My computer is back!
I just got my computer back from Best Buy. My laptop stopped turning on...never a good sign. It was still covered under the 1-year manufacturers warranty so they sent it back to Gateway. Gateway had to replace the motherboard and so far, so good. I do want to through out a plug for Best Buy though because normally I'd be complaining if the service wasn't good, but I only have wonderful things to say about the Saginaw Geek Squad - they really went above and beyond (took out my hard drive first so I wouldn't lose everything) and were fabulous. Kudos Best Buy!
Things are pretty much settled in here. Zeke is getting used to his new place. He's loving the fact that the golf course is closed right now because that's where we take our daily walks and there are plenty of squirrels to keep him busy. Today we ran into someone else walking her three dogs out there, so there was plenty of butt-sniffing to keep him happy.
I think our little one is destined to be known as the little alien. For those of you who saw the early ultrasound pics, you understand this. Seriously, she look like an alien. Some people call their kiddo peanut (because of the resemblance to the legume in these early pictures); but not ours. No way, she's all alien. Of course, the feelings of something growing and stretching and moving inside of you definitely adds to the sensation. Last time I checked, peanuts didn't do that!
Upcoming events include Thanksgiving at our house (I am SO looking forward to celebrating the holiday season without massive travel), Thanksgiving at Ingrid's, the baby shower on the 6th, and then a 32 week ultrasound on the 10th. Busy times, won't be long now!
Things are pretty much settled in here. Zeke is getting used to his new place. He's loving the fact that the golf course is closed right now because that's where we take our daily walks and there are plenty of squirrels to keep him busy. Today we ran into someone else walking her three dogs out there, so there was plenty of butt-sniffing to keep him happy.
I think our little one is destined to be known as the little alien. For those of you who saw the early ultrasound pics, you understand this. Seriously, she look like an alien. Some people call their kiddo peanut (because of the resemblance to the legume in these early pictures); but not ours. No way, she's all alien. Of course, the feelings of something growing and stretching and moving inside of you definitely adds to the sensation. Last time I checked, peanuts didn't do that!
Upcoming events include Thanksgiving at our house (I am SO looking forward to celebrating the holiday season without massive travel), Thanksgiving at Ingrid's, the baby shower on the 6th, and then a 32 week ultrasound on the 10th. Busy times, won't be long now!
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The poll results are close as of this posting - keep the votes coming in, I'm interested in what you guys think (disclaimer: poll results are non-binding!)
Not much new here...just plugging along with the subbing and Tom's staying busy at work. Yes, I know he works at the state, but really, they're keeping him busy. The baby is good and active still; it's kinda weird to be able to just watch my stomach move sometimes, it really does feel like I have an alien in there!
Speaking of babies, if you have any suggestions for must-haves before the baby is here, I'd be happy to hear!
We've met a couple of our neighbors - they seem really nice. One guy brought a bottle of wine and the next door neighbors brought us some cookies. Hopefully they still like us when the little one gets older and starts lofting softballs at their house. Maybe we should be bribing them...
Make a note of our new address:
5083 Huron Breeze Dr.
AuGres, MI 48703
The poll results are close as of this posting - keep the votes coming in, I'm interested in what you guys think (disclaimer: poll results are non-binding!)
Not much new here...just plugging along with the subbing and Tom's staying busy at work. Yes, I know he works at the state, but really, they're keeping him busy. The baby is good and active still; it's kinda weird to be able to just watch my stomach move sometimes, it really does feel like I have an alien in there!
Speaking of babies, if you have any suggestions for must-haves before the baby is here, I'd be happy to hear!
We've met a couple of our neighbors - they seem really nice. One guy brought a bottle of wine and the next door neighbors brought us some cookies. Hopefully they still like us when the little one gets older and starts lofting softballs at their house. Maybe we should be bribing them...
Make a note of our new address:
5083 Huron Breeze Dr.
AuGres, MI 48703
