The Whirling Dervish

Sunset in Greenville, NC

2011-12-23T17:36:00.002-05:00

My Ragu

2011-12-18T13:42:00.000-05:00

The other day, I noticed the tomatoes I had bought were getting mushy. I needed to do something with them. So I roasted them with some balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a couple of cloves of garlic.

I had thought I'd shove it into a blender or food processor with some heavy cream and make some awesome tomato soup. My corporate, furnished apartment didn't have either one. So I smushed it with a fork thinking I could get it to somewhat soupy consistency. Alas, that didn't work either. In frustration, I covered it and put it in the fridge.

Then I got inspired. I had mushrooms. And pasta. So this is what I did.

1 onion, medium, chopped
1 packaged sliced mushrooms
beef stock

saute on med or med-low heat until the mushrooms shrink and the stock has evaporated. it's about 10 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and garlic, smushed. Add salt and pepper. Allow to cook down until most of the liquid has evaporated from the tomatoes.

Add favorite pasta, I used fettucini. It's a think sauce like a ragu. Dang tasty!

My Mom's Christmas Cactus

2011-12-11T14:13:00.001-05:00

2011-12-10T13:04:00.001-05:00

I haven't posted in a while because I haven't felt like I had much to say.

I finished up my assignment in Fairfax, VA the second week of November. I was suppose to start my next assignment in Springfield, MA November 14 but due to a paperwork snafu I started the 21st.

So I went home for a week. It was a nice visit with the family. A good break to relax for me.

I'm not all that happy in this assignment here in Springfield. I took this assignment to stay on the East coast for the holiday season to make it easy to get home for Christmas. I got here and found that I'm working eight hour night shifts.

I detest the night shifts and felt like I was led astray a bit by the nurse interviewing me. That is partially my fault. When the contract came to me it wrote of nights more than day shifts. I should have listened and backed out. But I didn't. Lesson learned.

I do work with some lovely nurses and techs on the night shift. It's just not my normal. My sleep patterns are very very off.

So I haven't gotten out and explored the town. I don't seem to have time to do so.

I'm hoping to strike a balance while I'm here. We'll see what happens in the remaining 10 weeks.

New Adventure..

2011-11-19T17:45:00.001-05:00

Well, I finished up my assignment at Inova in Fairfax, VA last week.

I thought I was going to leave there on Saturday and start last Monday in Massachusetts, but that didn't happen. Snafu with paperwork going thru a third party sent me home for a week.

Which was good because I got to see the family and just chill out for a week. While I was home I found out that my housing is corporate so I could leave half of my stuff at my parents place. I think they will take it to my storage unit in a week or two. It was nice not to have to have the car completely loaded down. I still brought more than others would bring as there were a few gadgets that I have to bring with me.

Yesterday I drove up here to Springfield, MA. The last two hours about killed me. I had forgotten how horrible the Merritt Parkway is in Connecticut. It took me over an hour to go 20 miles. I unpacked the important stuff last night.

Today I unpacked the rest then headed to Target and found the grocery store. So I know where I'm going for food and essentials.

Tomorrow I will do a dry run to the hospital I'll be working at as well as finding their HR building.

And the new adventure begins....

Goodbye Washington DC

2011-11-11T14:28:00.001-05:00

Fall part 2

2011-11-02T21:45:00.001-04:00

What I love about this picture is the colors of trees and the mist coming off of the water.

What I'm not the happiest with is the gray skies. Well, you can't control the weather and it was overcast that day.

THE REED FLUTE'S SONG by Rumi

2011-10-31T21:38:00.003-04:00

Listen to the story told by the reed,

of being separated.

"Since I was cut from the reedbed,
I have made this crying sound.

Anyone apart from someone he loves
understands what I say.

Anyone pulled from a source
longs to go back.

At any gathering I am there,
mingling in the laughing and grieving,

a friend to each, but few
will hear the secrets hidden

within the notes. No ears for that.
Body flowing out of spirit,

spirit up from body: no concealing
that mixing. But it's not given us

to see the soul. The reed flute
is fire, not wind. Be that empty."

Hear the love fire tangled
in the reed notes, as bewilderment

melts into wine. The reed is a friend
to all who want the fabric torn

and drawn away. The reed is hurt
and salve combining. Intimacy

and longing for intimacy, one
song. A disastrous surrender

and a fine love, together. The one
who secretly hears this is senseless.

A tongue has one customer, the ear.
A sugarcane flute has such effect

because it was able to make sugar
in the reedbed. The sound it makes

is for everyone. Days full of wanting,
let them go by without worrying

that they do. Stay where you are
inside such a pure, hollow note.

Every thirst gets satisfied except
that of these fish, the mystics,

who swim a vast ocean of grace
still somehow longing for it!

No one lives in that without
being nourished every day.

But if someone doesn't want to hear
the song of the reed flute,

it's best to cut conversation
short, say good-bye, and leave.

Blah!

2011-10-29T10:40:00.000-04:00

I feel like crap so I'm posting a picture of something pretty.

Fall at Great Falls, MD

2011-10-26T20:54:00.002-04:00

well, hello there Fall!

2011-10-23T18:53:00.000-04:00

I just wanted to say hello to Fall. It has been a while in coming to northern Virginia.

This was taken at Great Falls park in Maryland. I love it out there. The water levels have finally come back up, thanks to all of the rain over the past 2 months. I took my sister out there for the first time and my mom for the second time. We had a great time working out our cameras!

The Oldest Thirst There Is by Rumi

2011-10-21T15:46:00.003-04:00

Give us gladness that connects
with the Friend, a taste of the quick,
you that make a cypress strong and jasmine jasmine.

Give us the inner listening
that is a way in itself
and the oldest thirst there is.

Don't measure it out with a cup.
I am a fish. You are the moon.
You cannot touch me, but your light
can fill the ocean where I live.

Spiders and Fall

2011-10-19T22:22:00.001-04:00

National Cathedral's Ironwork

2011-10-18T10:25:00.002-04:00

sewing

2011-10-16T14:24:00.002-04:00

I haven't sewn in a while. Recently I noticed a different style of hat that ties in the back and looks like an offshoot of a man's hat. So I spent a night figuring it out. After a few modifications, I've finally gotten exactly what I want.

After figuring it out, my friend J wanted some hats in the same style. She tried mine on and it worked with her long hair. That shocked me, I thought it would only be good for short hair.

J and I went on a fabric shopping trip. 40 different fabrics, 60 hats.. I'm gonna be busy for a while! Now if I can finish with the black ones... yeesh! I'm tired of seeing black backgrounds.

Welcome Fall

2011-10-15T12:39:00.001-04:00

One of the things I love about fall is the changing colors. This is grass. Who knew that when you let the grass grow and the weather changes, the seeds are red.

I found this out when I went to see the family last weekend. Mom and Dad's neighbor's lawn mower broke leaving a patch of grass uncut. The seeds germinated and it was this patch of red on green. I wandered over to their patch, laid down on my belly and took this picture. I love it. Hello Fall!

Because Nightie should be sitting here

2011-10-13T08:29:00.001-04:00

Memorial for Nightwolf, Karen. October 7, 2011

2011-10-09T15:16:00.000-04:00

There are no words to express my sorrow.

Quiet Sunday Morning

2011-10-02T08:50:00.001-04:00

water on stones

2011-10-01T22:04:00.002-04:00

Funny quote

2011-09-29T13:07:00.001-04:00

"Why do people say 'grow some balls'? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you really wanna get tough, grow a vagina. Those things take a pounding."

Betty White

Wordless Wednesday, Movement

2011-09-28T22:53:00.002-04:00

Road less traveled

2011-09-27T20:51:00.003-04:00

Saturday Musings

2011-09-24T18:27:00.001-04:00

This is deceptively hard to do. Creating this rock sculpture in a meditative space. You have to set the rocks just right in order for them to stay like this.

I wondered later if they weren't helped along with construction adhesive.

At this point I don't care. I just think it is restful to look at.

I sat on a swing, rocking and looking that the rock garden. Concentrating on each grouping for a minute or two before shifting to another.

Here, even the smallest stones have weight to them. And I like that.

Happy Mabon

2011-09-23T22:31:00.000-04:00

Today was the first day of Autumn, also known as Mabon. I like this day. Had I been home and not raining, it could have been a fabulous day. Instead, it rained and was warm here in VA...and I worked all day.

I think this picture reflects Mabon, the beginning of Autumn well. The summer flowers are dying back, the fall flowers are in bloom and the green is fading to golds and reds.

Looking at limbs

2011-09-22T19:00:00.003-04:00

frustration

2011-09-21T22:14:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my test in frustration. While I was on my trip to Asheville, I roomed with my awesome friend, Marty. She brought a tiny hummingbird feeder with her and attached it to the window in our room.

We watched a couple of hummingbirds come in to feed. They are fattening up for their trip across the Gulf of Mexico to warmer weather.

I grabbed my camera and tried to take pictures of this fat girl. She was so tired from trying to drink, she had to sit on the top of the feeder. She did this a few times. No, she doesn't have her feathers ruffled out.. she's that fat! Isn't she awesome! Oh and according to Marty, she's a girl because the boys would have a redish throat. She's made a good study of these little critters.

My camera had fits for a couple of reasons. A. It's a hummingbird who moves fast. B. I was shooting through window glass. and C. I don't have Image Stabilizer on my zoom lens. Awe well. Some day I'll get better with the camera.

perfection

2011-09-20T22:07:00.002-04:00

Some days are just perfection.

I woke up on Saturday at 7 am, while on vacation to go walking thru the woods.

I was outside of Asheville, NC at a lovely retreat center called Bend of Ivy. They have a nice trail that you can walk. So off to the river I went. An old tobacco barn sits at the end of a meadow heading down to the river.

Once at the river, there was a trail lining it before it heads back up the mountain. Surprisingly there were still plenty of flowers to be seen. Big fat bumble bees were the only things visiting them. I guess the smaller bees have already bedded down for the winter.

I found these tiny flowers along the river bank. Dew or rain drops still on the flowers. For me, this was flower picture perfection!

I Love Wolfcon

2011-09-19T19:21:00.002-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-07T21:59:00.002-04:00

Labor Day

2011-09-05T16:07:00.002-04:00

Imagine working on a canal...in the 1800's.

2011-09-04T20:00:00.003-04:00

The Rose Window at the National Cathedral

Let's Geaux Tigers!!

2011-09-03T12:44:00.002-04:00

Let's Geaux Tigers!!!!!

Beat the Ducks!!

National Cathedral

2011-09-02T16:14:00.001-04:00

2011-09-01T18:38:00.000-04:00

I've been taking pictures of the National Cathedral here in DC. It took two trips and I was planning on a third. But the earthquake changed that. For over a week the Cathedral has been closed due to damage. Today scaffolding went up inside the cathedral to protect people from any more mortar coming down. Mortar seems to be the biggest problem inside.

Outside several of the spires from the top of cathedral broke and fell. It is also leaning a bit and there was one place that spun to the side by 6 inches.

2011-08-22T20:58:00.001-04:00

I've found that the older I get, the more I appreciate architecture. This is in the Library of Congress. You can't do something this ornate anymore. It's simply costs too much to get this elaborate.

The women, angels or mermaids, are intricately carved as are the moldings. All carved. The first time I saw the Library of Congress I was struck stupid. There are amazing things to see every where you look, if you look up.

For me, the architecture was better than the old Bible's.

Some times you feel like a nut

2011-08-18T11:32:00.001-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-17T20:43:00.002-04:00

grocery shopping mid day

2011-08-16T17:03:00.002-04:00

I'm usually one to grocery shop either in the mornings or early afternoon. Generally, that works for me. The grocery store isn't too busy so I can get in and get out in a hurry.

I expected today to be the same. I headed out about 12:15. It being a Tuesday, should have been a slow time as most are working. Do Not go grocery shopping after 3 pm! People are getting off of work between 3 and 8 and running to the store, it's a nightmare!

I found myself fighting for a parking spot at 12:20. What the heck is going on I'm thinking. Then I realize what it is. Office people coming into the grocery store to the deli area of the store. It's the only grocery store around a huge office area. I can't say its an office park, because its not, just huge office buildings all over for a few miles.

So there I was, fighting with the office workers getting their lunches to get my groceries.

But on the menu is burgers, curried chicken and veggies, maybe some jasmine rice.

Past it's prime

2011-08-15T21:48:00.001-04:00

What strikes me with this picture is that the blooms were just past their prime. They are fading and will soon fall, but still they have a beauty in the fading.

A View thru the Window

2011-08-14T21:11:00.002-04:00

The cure for darkness and rain

2011-08-13T18:33:00.002-04:00

It's been raining here in northern Virginia. I've not felt very well for half the day, so I thought I'd go looking thru pictures that would make me happy. This was it.

I could go on about the composition, but the fact is, I wanted a great picture of this tiny flower and got up close and my camera obliged by blurring out the rest. I took this picture in the Bishop's garden on the National Cathedral grounds on a blistering hot day in July.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-10T17:29:00.002-04:00

Luscious Friday

2011-08-05T20:59:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure if everyone agrees with me, but there seems to be a lusciousness about the last hour of work on Friday.

That last hour of the work week, when you know freedom is coming. You know that cold drink is just waiting for you.

AAHHHHH That's what I was thinking about today as I got closer to the end of my shift.

Because some days, you just want to look at something pretty.

2011-08-04T20:44:00.003-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-03T21:17:00.001-04:00

Ave Mary A

2011-08-02T15:17:00.011-04:00

I like this picture because of the feminine quality of the carving. When I saw this, I heard P!nk’s song.

Ave Mary A
Motorcycle's in the parking lot
Revving their engines and it just won't stop
Matches the noise screaming in my head
Houston, I think we got a problem
Where does everybody go when they go?
They go so fast, I don't think they know
We hate so fast and we love too slow
London, I think we got a problem
And when I think about it
I just can't think about it
I try to drink about it
I keep spinning
Ave Mary A, where did you go? Where did you go?
How did you know to get out of a world gone mad?
Help me, let go of the chaos around me
The devil that hounds me, I need you to tell me
Child be still. Child, be still
Broken hearts all around the spot
I can't help thinking that we lost the plot
Suicide bomber and a student shot
Tokyo, I think we got a problem
But for that they have got a pill
If that don't kill you then the side effects will
If we don't kill each other then the side effects will
Cape Town, I think we got a problem
Ave Mary A, where did you go? Where did you go?
How did you know to get out of a world gone mad?
Help me, let go of the chaos around me
The devil that hounds me, I need you to tell me
Child, be still
If the darkest hour comes before the light
Where is the light? Where is the light?
If the darkest hour comes before the light
Where is the light? Where is the light?
Where is the light? Yeah
Ave Mary A, where did you go? Where did you go?
How did you know to get out of a world gone mad?
Help me, help me, let go of the chaos around me
The devil that hounds me, I need you to tell me
Child be still. Child be still. Child be still

Play of Light

2011-08-01T18:05:00.001-04:00

I thought I'd continue to post some pictures from the National Cathedral.

What grabbed my eye today were 3 pictures that showed the play of light from all of the stained glass.

This is in George Washington's corner literally at the feet of his statue. I think the light was coming in from the glass over his left shoulder.

This picture is a bit blurry. I was having a huge problem getting the camera to work right near the alter. I was looking back toward the nave thru the choir area. The choir area is really dark and hard to photograph for me.

Still, the play of the light on the ceiling is what I really loved about this picture.

Who knows, maybe I'm the only one.

This picture I love because I was on the behind the scenes tour and we were up in the balcony looking at the nave and altar. Here you can see the light streaming thru the stained glass. You can see it hitting the ceiling, arches, and walls.

National Cathedral, Washington DC

2011-07-31T14:36:00.001-04:00

This is a stained glass window in the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. I love this window because it's so different from the others. It's dedicated to Space Exploration and NASA. One of the astronauts went to school at the National Cathedral.

In the center of the red circle is a stone from the Moon, brought back by the astronauts.

2011-07-25T20:10:00.001-04:00

Some days Music is the only thing I can relate to. I don't know why some old scars and pain are coming up the past week or two, but they have. It isn't something I wanted to go thru again. It was a lot of pain back then. It's a lot of memories for such a short time period. Maybe it's a warning. Maybe not. But the pain brought me to this song by Slipknot. It's called Snuff. The resonate with the last line, still.

Bury all your secrets in my skin.
Come away with innocence, and leave me with my sins.
The air around me still feels like a cage
And love is just a camouflage for what resembles rage again...

So if you love me, let me go.
And run away before I know.
My heart is just too dark to care.
I can't destroy what isn't there.

Deliver me into my Fate -
If I'm alone I cannot hate
I don't deserve to have you...
Ooh, my smile was taken long ago,
If I can change I hope I never know.

I still press your letters to my lips
And cherish them in parts of me that savor every kiss.
I couldn't face a life without your light,
But all of that was ripped apart, when you refused to fight.

So save your breath, I will not care.
I think I made it very clear.
You couldn't hate enough to love.
Is that supposed to be enough?

I only wish you weren't my friend.
Then I could hurt you in the end.
I never claimed to be a Saint...
Ooh, my own was banished long ago,
It took the Death of Hope to let you go

So break yourself against my stones
And spit your pity in my soul.
You never needed any help...
You sold me out to save yourself...

And I won't listen to your shame.
You ran away, you're all the same.
Angels lie to keep control...
Ooh, my love was punished long ago,
If you still care, don't ever let me know...
If you still care, don't ever let me know...

2011-07-24T12:37:00.001-04:00

This is one of the stained glass windows in the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

I love this piece because it makes me think of the tree of life or the tree to show the family tree.

It was actually done in honor of Winston Churchill. It's gorgeous no matter who it was for or why it was done.

Yes I realize it's a bit off in straightness, but ehh, I was on a tour and our guide was walking really fast!!

Stained glass from National Cathedral, Washington,DC

2011-07-23T20:55:00.003-04:00

The Eyes Have it

2011-07-13T21:23:00.001-04:00

Meet my great grandfather, Leander Thomas Dendy. A woman I've been in contact with on ancestry.com has sent me some pictures of Leander and his family that she had. They have been wonderful to see.

I have no idea how old Leander is in this picture but I'm guessing teens, maybe as old as 21. He has such a young face and bright eyes.

It's amazing to see. He has his father, Eli's eyes. They are penetrating like Leanders.

I see my dad's eyes in these. Dad's eyes are hazel but Leander's looks blue. I guess that would be the blending of blue and brown eyes.

I can't tell how old Leander was in this picture. Obviously over 35, but working the land like he did, and aging happening faster back then due to bad food, long hard labor, etc. He could be in his mid 40's to mid 50's.

Still the eyes are the things that draw me to this picture and this man.

Murals of Beauty

2011-07-07T20:45:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, I just have to post a picture of pretty architecture. This is in the Capital Building. That's Washington seated with the purple blanket on his lap and yes, 13 virginal women..there's an explanation for this, but I was too busy taking pictures to get the story into my head. :)

Architecture from Holocaust Museum

2011-07-05T21:29:00.000-04:00

Happy Independence Day America

2011-07-04T12:01:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd use Abe's words today... Not what you expect to hear from Abe, but good none the less..

Great Falls, MD or VA..it's part of the state line...

2011-07-03T21:06:00.000-04:00

2011-07-02T18:32:00.000-04:00

I really like this sculpture. I took the picture in the sculpture garden, which is part of the Smithsonian. Don't ask me which gallery, I can't remember.

You can see so many different things in her. Is she meditating? Did she just finish meditating, is that why her hands are in that position?

Is she smiling just a little or the beginning of a scowl? Is she indifferent to the artist?

You take from it what you want. That's how life is these days for me.

Falls

2011-06-30T21:07:00.000-04:00

Today I drove out to Great Falls Tavern, part of the National Park Service. The Tavern was built next to the C&O Canal as a tourist rest stop before hiking to the Great Falls over a century ago. I'll post pictures of the C&O after I take the canal tour.

The walk to the Great Falls is an easy walk on a board walk with crossing bridges over two smaller falls.

I took a bunch of pictures but picked four of my favorites to post today. Love technology that allows you to post the same day you walk!

Pictures of Washington DC

2011-06-28T19:16:00.000-04:00

Family picture

2011-06-21T20:36:00.000-04:00

Taking a much needed break at the Washington Monument. The girls did really well with all of the walking that we did. We started near the White House, down to the Lincoln Memorial and then the entire length of the Mall area, ending up at the Capital Building.

2011-06-19T18:06:00.000-04:00

These are my nieces. And photogs in the making. The oldest one is 8 and has my old Kodak camera, given to her after she had all a's on her report card last year. She was able to bring the camera to take pictures of DC. She took some very good pictures while she was out and about.

2011-06-18T19:31:00.000-04:00

I kinda forgot to post about my high school reunion while I was there. I had a good time!

I went to my home town wanting to see as many people as I could. I saw more people than I planned on.

I needed to get my hair cut while in Bossier. I ran out of time to get it done here in Virginia. So I got online and found a salon in one of the casinos who could get me in on Friday after 2pm. Harder to do than I thought. The manager of the place did tell me that their fill in stylist would be doing my cut and color as their normal one was out of town that day. My appointment was for 6 pm, around 4 pm the stylist called me to ask what color I wanted. I told her red, as I enjoy being a redhead.

When I walked in, I thought I knew her. When I mentioned I thought she looked familiar she told me she had been doing hair for 40 years...and it hit me! "Mrs Diane?!?!" When I was in junior high and the beginning of high school, she cut my family's hair! Small small world, in deed. We knew no one would believe us so we had the receptionist take our picture when she was done.

Muddy Waters

2011-06-04T12:53:00.000-04:00

Well that could be apt description for every body of water around here. Instead it's the name of a bar on the outskirts of Bossier heading north toward Benton.

About 25 showed up and I was immediately accosted for the use of my camera.

We had a great time, eventually even taking over the karaoke machine for most of the night.

I'm sure a few had to have their spouses drive them home but most of us stuck to a couple of beers and a great time!

Louisiana

2011-06-03T16:41:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Louisiana my friends!

I am home for my high school reunion. *Cue sinister music* My 20th at that!

I am staying with my other mother, Gayle. I say other mother because she pretty much was, being one of my mom's best friends and someone my sister and I could go to when we needed an adult to listen to us without judging us. She's special in so many ways. She's shooting pool in a tournament this weekend and we are trying to figure out timing to actually see each other as I'm doing stuff for the reunion, shopping (have my list ready of LSU stuff!), and trying to see family in two other towns! And her pool tourney is all day Sat and part of Sun.

Should be interesting folks as I dive into new territory! Plus I'm getting my hair cut and colored today to boot. Nothing like leaving it to the last minute ehh?!?

Nerd weekend

2011-05-30T18:20:00.001-04:00

I've had a complete nerd weekend.

Saturday I had a Battlestar Galactica marathon. The last season of the show. It holds up and makes an interesting ending for sure. I followed with the movie "A Midsummer Night's Dream." You have to love Shakespeare, Rupert Everett's greatness balances out Calista Flockheart's sad performance.

Sunday, I got my butt kicked at work. Twelve hours of nonstop ortho.

Today, I started with Aeon Flux and continue with LOTR trilogy. No telling what I will watch tomorrow.

Fat Girl Rant

2011-05-26T20:48:00.000-04:00

I don't get mad shopping very often. I'm not a shopper to begin with but when I go, I just do it. I'm a fast shopper. A friend and I called it the lightning round. Guys didn't believe me until my friend Jack complained he had no clothes, so he and I went shopping, I picked him out 10 outfits in 5 minutes. He went and tried them on and bought everything. And was stunned we were out in 20 minutes. He thought I'd have him out shopping all day.

That's just me. I find what I like, try it on and get out fast.

You would think that a town as big as DC would have decent stores with party/cocktail/formal dresses for us fat girls. Oh before you start fussing at me about calling myself fat, know I think I'm awesome and nothing wrong with me being fat.

So come on people. I've accepted that stores like Macy's, Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, Dillards...ya know the department stores are going to put the fat girl section on a separate floor from the rest of the women's clothes or they are going to put them in the corner usually near the underwear. But have something more than a basic black dress. And for Heaven's sake have more colors and shapes that appeal to younger women. I'm not 70, I'm 38 and I like to have fun with my clothes.

I had a frustrating day today shopping. There just wasn't that much choice out there. Why can't they take the cute dresses and just make them bigger? It's stupid that they don't. After all, most of us are bigger than a size 8.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-25T15:12:00.002-04:00

humming at work

2011-05-23T21:26:00.002-04:00

One of the women I work with was humming a song. It took a few minutes to remember the song. It was old when I was young, but one of those songs I heard with my grandmothers and aunts.

Of course, I had to go download the song with the singer I wanted. I was torn between Mama Cass' version or Ella Fitzgerald's. In the end, I went with Ella. So I found a version on You Tube to post today.

difference of opinions

2011-05-21T20:46:00.000-04:00

When I was younger the story of the British monarch, Edward (called David by his family), abdicating his kingship in order to marry the American Wallis Simpson was told with like Cinderella or Snow White. The love of Edward and Wallis was told to us in history classes much like a good fairy tale.

Tonight I'm watching "The King's Speech" and it is a different take on the fairy tale. Now, David is part of the reason why George (Bertie) stutters horribly. I've been around people who stutter and never understood other people's inability to listen. Sure it takes some extra time to listen, but why do you have to be cruel to a physical problem?

But I think England faired better with Bertie on the throne than David.

More Rumi

2011-05-20T21:22:00.001-04:00

Late, by myself, in the boat of myself, no light and no land anywhere, cloudcover thick.

I try to stay just above the surface, yet I'm already under and living with the ocean.

Not Here
There's courage involved if you want to become truth.

There is a broken-
open place in a lover.

Where are
those qualities of bravery and sharp compassion in this group?

What's the
use of old and frozen thought?

I want
a howling hurt. This is not a treasury
where gold is stored; this is for copper.

We alchemists look for talent that can heat up and change.

Lukewarm
won't do. Halfhearted holding back,
well-enough getting by?

Not here.

From the Orchid OD files... I call it Beautiful Oddball

2011-05-19T20:21:00.000-04:00

Rumi Poetry

2011-05-19T18:23:00.000-04:00

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.

Don't go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.

Don't go back to sleep.

People are going back and forth across the doorsill

where the two worlds touch.

The door is round and open.

Don't go back to sleep.

happy dance

2011-05-18T17:58:00.000-04:00

Yes, this is me doing the happy snoopy dance.

Last night, I opened my email expecting to hear that my family member's health issues were life threatening..and it still could be. But they are starting with a diagnostic procedure instead of the big cut to the chest.

It also doesn't present like cancer, so we're going with that for right now.. the diagnostic procedure will tell the tale, but for right now...

......it's the snoopy dance!

Oddballs and dipsht*s

2011-05-17T20:32:00.000-04:00

You know, some days you just have to put up the oddball picture to amuse yourself. This was taken at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC.

I had to post something to amuse myself because I spent the day with condescending jerk doctors and dipsh*t docs. Do I really need to ask you if you checked the back wall of the Inferior Vena Cava after fixing the hole on the top of the IVC from the knife that got stuck in a belly?? You are really that dumb? I'd grumble, but that doesn't translate well to the blog, so I'll skip that part.

I'll get off of my venting box now.. resume your normal programming.. I'm back to watching NCIS.

2011-05-16T18:24:00.000-04:00

She just looks tired. A bit like me today.

I'm worrying about some family going thru rough health issues.

I can't rest until I know what the next steps will be. This is one of those times when working in hospitals works against family members. I know what is probably going to happen so I don't want to influence the decisions. But it makes me uneasy not saying what I'm thinking. I'm also hoping that I'm horribly wrong.

I'm over thinking this, I know. I'm just tired.

Some days you just need a loud color

2011-05-14T15:23:00.000-04:00

Funny happenings in the Operating Room

2011-05-13T20:20:00.000-04:00

Yes, This is a sparrow. Small little thing to cause such havoc in the Surgery Department.

I was in my OR working away with a very nice neuro surgeon when my product rep comes in and tells us we have to make sure our door stays closed because a bird made it into the department and they are trying to catch it. Meanwhile, Do Not open your OR doors giving it another place to fly to.

Eventually, we heard the poor discombobulated bird flew into one of the anesthesia work rooms where an astute woman closed the door. Someone finally thinks to call security and maintenance to help them catch the bird. They brought a net. Still according to eye witnesses, the bird escaped from the net twice before being kept until they could get it back outside where it belongs.

Who knows what that poor sparrow told his sparrow friends. I'm sure it was a tale worthy of the bird who flew into the hospital and into an operating room theater.

Bored at work

2011-05-12T19:20:00.001-04:00

It's rare that I post a pic of me at work but I was bored today doing a back fusion and used what I had to illustrate what we all wanted. The beach. So I made a flag out of the paper that our suction tubing comes in and the flag pole is one of the titanium rods we use to fuse the levels of vertebrate.
Everyone in the room thought it was hysterical so the nerve monitoring tech grabbed my phone and took this picture of me with the flag.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-11T16:49:00.000-04:00

More of the Orchid OD

2011-05-10T11:07:00.001-04:00

Azaleas native to the US

2011-05-10T10:50:00.000-04:00

Taken at the DC Botanical Garden

2011-05-09T20:48:00.002-04:00

Happy gorgeous Monday morning! It's beautiful this morning in the DC environs and I'm stuck inside working. Per usual.

Steak for supper

2011-05-08T21:37:00.000-04:00

I live alone. So I try to fix meals that are good for two instead of four. When I make it for four it just gets boring. I never finish it. So I halve a lot of recipes or go looking for 2 serving recipes.

Tonight I was cooking for the next couple of days. I decided to marinade some steak (about 1/2 pound for skewers) in soy sauce, sherry, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. I put the steak in a hot pan for a minute on each side while I put the marinade in another pan and let it reduce. I had a package of shiitake mushrooms that I stemmed then cut in half. Once the marinade had reduced I added the mushrooms. Once the steak was done I added those to the marinade. It's pretty tasty.

To go with that I made a spiced rice. I sautéed onion then added lime zest, lime juice, grated ginger, 2 cloves, some grated nutmeg and the rice. It cooked down nicely. When it was cooked I added some chopped pistachios.

Next I made a pasta salad. Cherry tomatoes, cucumber (seeded), carrots, green peas, and cooked shrimp all added to orzo. I love it because it can be eaten cold, room temp, or hot.

Orchid Mania

2011-05-08T17:26:00.001-04:00

I went to the DC Botanical Garden yesterday. It was a great day to go as it was gorgeous with a high of 70 sunny and a light breeze. The conservatory wasn't hot and wet as it probably will be during the summer.

I went into orchid overload in the tropical or subtropical room (no I can't remember which one it's in the back right corner though).. I'm posting a few of the most interesting ones for today.

2011-04-24T15:06:00.002-04:00

It's rare that I get mad while sitting in church.

Let me back up, first, it's rare that I even attend church after spending my entire childhood in church. A southern baptist one at that. Would I change that if I could, probably not. Despite having some very conservative pastors I walked away from church with the notion that Jesus mostly spoke from a kind and loving heart. Reading his words, I found that he preached love, forgiveness, honesty, charity, kindness, and open mindedness towards others.

The older I got, the more paths I followed the more I realized that the organized religions were more about controlling people and their behaviors than teaching openness and love. So I quit going. I'll go to church with family and sit thru service but I'm usually just there, once in a while I get a golden nugget of what Jesus first taught, I'll have a moment that reminds me of happy times from childhood.

Today being Easter, the pastor at my family's church was speaking of the resurrection and he made a statement that made me angry. He was explaining why Christians go to church on Sunday, the first day of the week instead of Saturday, the 7th day of the week like the Jewish. His statement was that God put his fingerprint on Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead. And the Jews didn't believe that Jesus was the son of God and that was why they worship on Saturday and Christians

worship on Sunday.

What made me angry was the unsaid vibe of "that's why we are better and they are wrong." Pardon me, but the Old Testament tells readers that anyone worshipping as Jewish is to worship on Saturday. God put his handprint on Saturday too and before he touched Sunday. It was the still pervading notion of Christian pastors that the Jewish followers are wrong, therefore going to hell. It's damn arrogant in my opinion. So I sat thru the rest of the service staring at the skylight thinking about the shear arrogance of some religious communities and how pius they try to be at Easter.

It's Spring and Easter is the name of a goddess, the name has nothing to do with the Christian religions yet they keep it. It's days like this I want to tell people to get off their high horse and realize there are many paths to God, including perceptions of what god is.

2011-04-19T20:57:00.000-04:00

The storms are rolling into the area again so I thought I'd post a picture from the back porch of Mount Vernon, VA. The storms that day were rolling in and across the Potomac and were awesome to watch.

2011-04-17T14:59:00.000-04:00

North Carolina got smacked with a bunch of tornados yesterday and last night. So I thought I'd post a picture from my time living in Wilmington.

I am hoping that everyone is okay and everything is fine. Talked to my mom and the tornado was in the sky but didn't touch down, it did go over their house. Since it didn't touch down, it wasn't rated because it didn't cause damage..which is awesome. Mom did say it reminded her of living in Louisiana.

Old and New

2011-04-16T22:01:00.002-04:00

Spring is hanging on...

2011-04-15T17:30:00.000-04:00

2011-04-14T12:59:00.002-04:00

EARTH: The Owner's Manual

I just finished watching this...it isn't preachy but it makes sense. And I have to wonder why we aren't doing more with this. I can only imagine the oil $ in DC keeps us from seeing this done.

New Layout

2011-04-13T20:56:00.001-04:00

So I'm going with a new look for the blog. Let me know what you think of it.

I've still got plenty of pictures from the cherry blossom festival that I'll be posting.

2011-04-12T17:22:00.002-04:00

From the book "The Life Codes" by Patty Harpenau

As within, so without
As above, so below

"Once there was nothing. No beginning or end, place or time, no ever or never; an infinite field without borders, without a difference in light or darkness, in which light did not know how light it was. Simply nothing. An immeasurable world in which all and nothing were the same.
   "At that moment, it dawned on God that he would never get to know himself if there never was anything else other than himself. He decided to give birth to temporality, and at that moment he engraved his name in the infinity of the universe.
   "This was the first beginning. The separation between infinite and finite. Each one who would unveil the code of his name would understand the meaning: One is all, all is one.
   "Then came the light with its planets and stars. Breathlessly God watched the light he witnesses for the first time. From that moment on everyone who managed to disclose the code would know that everything would remain in the light: For the light is me, I am the light.
   "With his breath he made the heaves with its clouds and skies. So that everyone would know: I am heaven and heaven is within me. The came the seas and the difference between light and darkness. The water from above was separated from the waters below. So that all life would know: I am life and life is within me.
   "The uppermost heaven was filled with angels and in the bottommost heaven God placed the sun, the moon, and the stars. So that days and nights could be born and al that would float in the heavens would know: I am connected and everything is connected with me. On that seventh day all was ready for the living beings in the sea and in the sky to be born. And to them he gave plenty, so that with each breath they would know: I am God, and God is in me.
   "On that day, for the first time God saw himself, and he rested. He laid down his head on mother earth and determined: I am everything and everything is within me."

2011-04-12T01:20:00.002-04:00

Instead of complaining about my insomnia, I'll post a picture of a pretty flower from my trip to the National Arboretum from a couple of weeks ago.

One Week Later

2011-04-10T14:20:00.001-04:00

No, these are not from today, they are from last week.

I am finding I go back to the pictures taken along the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC.

The cherry blossoms were just beautiful when walking thru and around them.

The day was just gorgeous last Sunday. A bit of a contrast from today which has been mostly cloudy.

The blooms are just so small and delicate. The trees are surprisingly hardy for the flowers.

I know once the flowers are gone the green leaves will be hardy and provide a welcome screen from the summer sun soon to hit the area.

But for this shining moment, the paper-thin flowers steal the show and bring a lightness to the area.

A sure sign of spring for this part of the world. Something brought to us from half way around the world in Japan. I only hope that Japan's trees survived the earthquake and survive the nuclear meltdown.

Mount Vernon

2011-04-06T16:57:00.001-04:00

This plaque was front and center when starting the walk around Mount Vernon. George Washington's home.

He spent 20 of 50 years there while he owned it. Which is sad to me. 30 years off and on given to his country between the military and politics.

What was that truly like for his wife and children? Did they really know and understand their husband and father with so much time spent apart?

The house itself is not as big as one would think. There are 10 bedrooms but they are very small rooms accommodating a full sized bed and wardrobe in each room.

A few are bigger and have an added twin bed or crib.

It's a long house but not very deep.

Like my dad, I love weather vanes and this one was interesting. I haven't seen many doves of peace as a vane.

Even more interesting that it comes on the house of a man of war. It's a bit of a dichotomy to be sure, but then again maybe military personnel know more than others the price of peace.

The garden area has new plantings as spring comes to Virginia. Right now you can see tulips, daffodils, and my beloved hyacinth. I love the smell of hyacinth. It was lovely to find there.

2011-04-01T22:30:00.000-04:00

So, I had to think what I could cook for supper that was fun and different for my parents coming to visit.

I found a recipe at cooking channel's website from the show Chuck's Day off. He called it Holy Mackerel Tortilla. The original recipe called for smoked mackerel. I've never seen smoked mackerel in the grocery stores I go to. I'm not sure I'd even like smoked mackerel.

So I decided to use something I like...prosciutto. Oh, I know, I could have used smoked salmon, but prosciutto was already in the fridge.

Boiled potatoes, peeled and sliced. Then I sliced an onion and cooked it down with some garlic. Those were layered with the prosciutto.

Last 8 eggs and 1/4 cup of heavy cream were whisked together with salt and pepper and added to the pan of layered goodness. I used the pan I cooked the onions in to make the tortilla, and started it on the stove. The oven was set at the ubiquitous 350 degrees. Once the eggs started to set on the sides, I slid it into the oven for 25-30 minutes.

It was awesome. And I can see where changes could be made according to your tastes.. bacon, smoked salmon, greens, anything really.

Spring and rain

2011-03-31T19:26:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned before that I love Spring?!?

My Mamaw (maternal grandmother) called me her melancholy grandchild. Sometimes I'd even say maudlin is apt.

I get into a real low funk during the winter. Warming temperatures and bright flowers and flowering trees make me happy.

It's truly a rebirth for me every Spring. The cherry blossoms are blooming here in the DC area. My parents come to town tomorrow and Saturday morning we are going into DC to join the throngs taking pictures of the flowering trees. Its a true signifier of Spring for me.

2011-03-29T20:48:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling a bit wind swept after working a twelve hour shift today.

Maybe that's why I picked this interesting piece of living art.

I know it has been made to look windswept, but it still looks beautiful.

Wordless Friday

2011-03-25T21:46:00.003-04:00