Crucial Conversations

I tend to avoid confrontation.  Many times it is because I am able to “put myself in their shoes”.  I can understand where they are coming from and so can accept or adapt to the situation as it presents.  I also tend to live in my head so I do not even notice things that may irritate others.  That is my style.  It is important to know your style and, if possible, the style of the person you are going to be conversing with.  Do you run from confrontation?  Do you get super defensive?  Do you shut down?

As I approach a conversation that may become emotional and involve disagreement, I try to be mindful of my purpose and creating a safe atmosphere. It can be helpful to give the person a heads up about the discussion.  You can schedule a time to meet with them. If I approach a person the wrong way, perhaps when I am angry, they will likely shut down or get get defensive and start yelling back.  This will not accomplish anything!

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Chasing the Sun

Inspired by http://forkinmyeye.com/2012/06/26/the-summer-country/.

I grabbed my camera and headed out for a walk tonight.  My legs had a nice hill workout and my arms were lifting weights.  As the sun was setting I felt like I was chasing the sun around the neighborhood.  Hurricane clouds are so very cool.  There are layers of clouds all moving at different speeds and sometimes different directions.  I tried to take a video with my phone, but the speed of the lower clouds was still hard to appreciate.

My PSA for the week:  It is always good to be prepared.  Hurricane, flood, blizzard, earthquake, 2012, nuclear disaster…there are reasons to always have a few days supply of water, food and flashlights.  Do not forget a plan for your family in case something happens when you are scattered out doing various activities (ex: work, school).

Responsibility Can be a Four Letter Word

I am running late for work.  I rush out into the garage, throw my stuff in the car, and look up.

Ooooo.  I just have to get a picture of that.  I can use my phone.  No, this calls for a real camera.  But I am running late!  I run back in the house, snap a picture from the garage, and run the camera back into the house.  The drive to work was exquisite torture.  The drive takes me east, so I had a gorgeous view of the sunrise.  Two things kept me from stopping and taking photos.  1) I took my camera back in the house.  2) I was late for work.

Hat Trick

How wonderful!!!  I have been nominated for 3 awards.

Thank you to the lovely How to Online Date for the nomination for One Lovely Blogger Award.

Muchas Gracias to News of the Times for the nomination for the Illuminating Blogger Award.

Merci beaucoup to The Healthy Warrior for the nomination for the Beautiful Blogger Award.

They all have their own rules, so I will morph them to my design.  I encourage you to visit those three sites.  You will laugh, cry, laugh until you cry, and gain new perspective on news of the time, online dating, and being healthy.

The View From My Phone

My phone seems to track my life.  Today I share the view from my phone.  This is just a random sampling.

Plumeria blooming in the driveway.

Tiramisu Cake. Not bad for a first try. Not sure about the lady finger layers.

Lumbar MRI-not mine. This person is doing well now. No surgery needed.

Two Women and a Rock

The Evidence:

Bent Scissors

The Rock

Broken Glass

Listening to the Universe

I sometimes pray for even just a small whisper to tell me that I am on the right path.  I feel like the universe just yelled at me.  I have a vacation week approaching.  Last weekend, someone recommended that I take a trip to the Smokey Mountain National Park.  It sounded perfect.  Fresh air and hiking, but not too rugged.  Three times I hit <purchase ticket> and three times the transaction failed for one reason or another.  Well, okay then…there are other places to go hiking.  I began research for areas in Maine and Vermont.  My eyes began to glaze over so I left the finalization till today.

I had been on the internet most of the morning without incident.  Five minutes into narrowing down my selection, the smoke alarm gave out a long chirp.  The power went out.  My laptop, happy with its battery appeared fine.  However, the router had lost power so the internet had left me.  I think I will be staying close to home.

A great joke about listening and recognizing signs.  The man at his house during a great flood.

(Photo found at:  http://www.evolvinglifeintransition.com/do-you-trust-the-universe/)

For the Men in My Life

Thank you for everything you have taught me

Our Most Precious Resource

What I would do with more time:

Persistence of Time by Salvador Dali

Sleep           Exercise         Clean          Paint         Meditate

Visit             Love          Movies          Recycle          Photos

Cook         Party         Travel         Volunteer         Read

Wish to you balance in sustenance

What would you do?

 

Fuzzy Vision

I am bracing myself for the dreaded “bifocal moment”.  In college I was given a pair of reading glasses that I used maybe 5 times.  After almost falling out of a chair when I looked up at a roommate, they were chucked in a drawer.

Someone was telling me about how great lasik surgery had been for her.  I asked her if she could read a blurry note posted across the room.  She was more accurate than I, but could not decipher it completely.  I remarked, maybe I should have lasik.  A gentleman 3 feet behind us seemed just a little to happy to add, “Maybe you should, I can read it fine.”  Apparently, I have backed my way into the dreaded 40 year old bifocal curse a couple of years early.  I will procrastinate the appointment of doom a couple of weeks under the excuse that my eyes have been really dry lately and that could unfairly sway the jury.

One way to have fun at your next eye exam: