Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday U.S. Navy!

We're 231 years old and still going strong!

recruiting posters from bluejacket.com
'times square kiss' from historyimages.com

the best laid plans

Sometimes even the best laid plans go awry. I suppose it's only fitting that on the weekend honoring Christopher Columbus's discovery of the Americas, that my moving plans would go awry. You see Columbus didn't set out to discover a new land, he only wanted to find another way to get to the Indies. Things just didn't go as he had planned.

So, in spite of my best laid plans I didn't move this weekend. The landlord and his soon to be ex-wife are discussing the use of the building which houses the apartment I fell in love with. She wants to turn them into condos and he wants to rent them because in the meantime he is responsible for paying the mortgage. He's talking with the lawyers about this and will get back to me by Tuesday at the latest. He even offered to help me move in if it all works out. I still feel good about this place, and I'm not ready to give up on it yet. But, ya gotta have a back up.

I looked at another place today which was in the same price range and almost as nice. It didn't feel quite like home the way the other place did. Still I have a back up plan and will be moving sometime next week. I'll figure it out.

I am enjoying this weekend. I'm doing the things I need to do, but doing them when I want and I'm packing up things every so often. It's so much better than what I originally planned.

Happy three day weekend in honor of Columbus! And may your best laid plans sometimes go awry because often what happens is better than what you had planned.

landing of columbus from wickimedia.org

found

Found: 1 bedroom, full bath with tiled floor, hardwood floors throughout, new kitchen with new appliances, no dishwasher (boo!), stacked washer/dryer, closets=storage, back porch, on-street parking AND it's available immediately in my price range.

It's not an English basement apartment either. Yay! I'm still on Capitol Hill. Yay, yay!!

I finalize everything today and move in this weekend! Photos will follow.

Thanks for all the prayers.

breathe

Verb: breathe breedh
1. Draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
2. Be alive
3. Impart as if by breathing
4. Allow the passage of air through
5. Utter or tell
6. Manifest or evince
7. Take a short break from one’s activities in order to relax
8. Reach full flavor by absorbing air and being let to stand after having been uncorked
9. Expel (gases or odours)

I like numbers 1, 2, and 7. I think I need to breathe this week.

inhale. exhale. inhale. exhale.

I think I’m still alive… inhale. exhale. inhale. exha-a-a-a-le.

My head is going a million miles an hour. I’m bringing work home with me. I’m still apartment hunting. I haven’t even started to pack yet. I have two pies that aren’t in the oven yet, because I just can’t bring myself to make them and I need them for work tomorrow. I’m putting it off by typing this to clear my head.

Oh, and as for number 9, I thought that was called something else entirely.

I need to breathe. After tomorrow I think I can. Yay for three day weekends!

I will breathe this weekend.

In the meantime I keep reminding myself… inhale. exhale. inhale. exhale…

photo: http://store.peggycappy.net/jewel782.html

listening

This weekend I got to sit and listen to a prophet's voice.

In my church we have General Conference each April and October. It's a time when all the members worldwide come together and and listen to the guidance that our prophet, apostles and other general officers of the church have to share with us. This conference is broadcast around the world in over 80 different languages via satellite, television, radio and internet.

I think it's no coincendence that both conference weekends are in months where the seasons are changing. In April the world is renewing itself, coming alive after winter, plants are starting to poke their green leaves and shoots up, the snow is melting and the days are warming up a bit. In October the world is starting to slow down a bit, leaves are changing colors, the harvest is being gathered, the air is crisp and we are getting ready to hunker down for the cold of winter. General Conference is a lovely reminder that we are constantly changing and at different seasons in our own lives.

It's also nice to stop and just listen. I love being able to dedicate an entire weekend to listening to the words of a prophet and apostles. I love the reminders about the things I need to work on, the things I'm doing right and most important of all how much my Heavenly Father loves me.

Sometimes it's easy to forget how much He really does love me and General Conference weekend always helps me feel that way. I hope you can stop and listen. I hope you know that you are loved by Him and that you can feel it.

Happy autumn.

photo: 'girl listening to radio' commons.wickimedia.org

gray

so, i looked in the mirror today and noticed i have gray hair.

actually, upon closer examination i have gray hairs.

i'm not sure how i feel about that.

two years ago i didn't have any gray on my head. but then the last two years have been heart stopping, breath taking, life changing years.

i'm growing up and i guess growing just a little older.

or should i say, just a little more experienced.

'color icon gray' from commons.wickimedia.org

looking for a place

I’m looking for a new place to live, which can fun or really frustrating.

Today was frustrating.

Today I need to smile and dream...

I have an unlimited budget for housing and utilities.

I would petition the city for this building.

It was erected in 1894. The marble plaque in between the windows says so.

Look at that space on the left. I’m thinking landscaping, a tiered vegetable garden, a water feature, and a small table and chairs under a tree. I love how wide it is. Maybe I’d make two houses… or not.

Off street parking, oh baby! I just think it has so much potential.

Plus look at that brick work. Gorgeous!

I would leave the Engine House No 10 lettering right where it was. And the fire pole too.

Or maybe I want to live in yellow or purple. What color would you paint your house?

I want to live in a skinny house on a corner with this great yard. I love this house. It’s old, it needs work.

I love that it’s on a corner and it has funny angles in the rooms. So much potential. So much work!


Or maybe I want round tower rooms and a balcony for my matching castles.
“Rapunzel let your hair down. It’s me, your Prince Charming.”
I think I would just have to put this sofa in one of the round rooms. A girl can dream, right?


This just makes me smile. I love all the colors and the skyline marching down the block.
One of these things is not like the other.
It makes me smile and I need this today.

Pray that I find a good, safe place to live. Thank you.
photos by me on capitol hill, dc

saying no

i said no.

to a really great opportunity. it would have been really fun, a great growing experience and a dream come true adventure.

i said i was going to say yes, but then cried myself to sleep with a tummy ache. i even tried to write an email saying yes, but couldn't. i finally wrote one saying no, and then waited a few hours before sending to see how it felt.

i finally had peace. my head and my heart were in alignment. nothing inside me was fighting the decision, so i said no. it feels so good to say no sometimes.

but sometimes it's difficult when it's something you really want. it can mean letting of dreams, choosing to turn in a different direction or continuing right where you are. often it means choosing to grow up a little more.

if you listen to that still small voice in the deepest part of your heart and follow it, then you will find peace. that makes it a little easier and provides comfort. that's when you know God has got you in his hands.

the good news:
i'll be around these here parts for a while. yay! this makes me happy.

photo by me: sunset in porto venere, italia