Thoughts from Alison that might at least entertain you!

Change Can Be Annoying

Hi All!

Once again, TypePad has made changes that I have to learn to navigate for this blogging adventure to continue.  I'm poking around now trying to learn what's different and what I might have to re-learn.  I'll be back better than ever (at least TypePad seems to think so) as soon as I know what I'm doing!

Happy Saturday - enjoy your day of football, schedule, or non-schedule - whichever you have ahead of you!

Ok, first annoyance - supposedly I can change the font to the one I like, but nooooooo.  Liars!

Second annoyance, can't hilight and reformat the whole post at once, it will only let me do a paragraph at a time if I want to change anything.  Grrr.

(It will, however, let me change text color for all paragraphs at once.  Typepad?  Are you out there?  Can you fix this?  Curses!)

Out Of Touch

Still no email at Prune Ridge!  Wooohooo, go Net Identity.  Yeah!

Alright, you blog, you!

Well hello again, All!

I'm back, so to speak.  I've decided not to cash in my blog for the time being, even though I'm still annoyed and nothing seems "better" than the "upgrades" to this system.  We'll see what I manage to format this into for appearance's sake.

Random bits of life include:

Tomorrow is "Grillin' for Food Gatherers!"  This is one of my favorite events of the year.  Food Gatherers (the amazing organization my beautiful husband works for) had crafted this event which is quite successful and lots of fun.  I appreciate it as a day-long event because it can be whatever you like in a day long event.  If you like to socialize and chat, you can do that all day.  If you like to eat, you can do that all day.  If you like to listen to music, you can do that all day.  If you like any combination of those things, you can do that!  It's great fun.  If you haven't been before, consider joining us this year or next, ok?

I worked most of today, but got to fit in one of my favorite pieces of my job.  I hosted an Orientation for several new Volunteers.  I love working with Volunteers - even at the end of a week during which one of my Volunteers has been very angry with me.  I STILL love Volunteers!

I managed to dig up the weeds and overgrowth from our small front gardens yesterday.  Now the test will be to see how long it takes to buy and plant a few things to fill the space nicely.  I'm thinking about a couple of hostas and some taller things with pretty colors.  Pretty specific, eh?  I was pleased to discover yesterday afternoon that Meijer has a wonderful garden section.  It's well organized, well labeled, and easy to shop!  I'll keep you posted with pictures when (if?) I get some brilliant planting going on!

(Tori is rather disappointed at this moment that I am munching on a few chips and not sharing.)

The coming week will bring plenty more working for me, followed by a weekend packed with work.  I will fit in some time off too.  John will have a few days of hectic of catch up after Grillin'.  We will make time together!

Oh - AND - the birds have finally really discovered our bird feeder.  We're having fun talking to the birds and watching Tori (and Maggie B a little bit) react to the flurry of activity.

The next project here at Prune Ridge might be a patio!

Last, but not least, for tonight - CONGRATULATIONS and LOVE to Camille in BG!!  We are so sorry to miss you party tomorrow, but hope to celebrate with you yet this summer.  Good job!

Be Well and Be Good, Friends!  Have happy (even if it's too warm) Sundays, and stay in touch!

"Normal"

So this is what my blog-posting-text will look like if I give up on formatting. 

I'm thinking pretty boring, eh?

Blogging Void

I just lost an ENTIRE very long post here because of this idiotic and infuriating new set-up from my blog hosting site.

Sorry - I can't possibly recreate it, Dammit.

 

Be Well, Friends.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Well here I am, ready to post something (finally), and all my posting "stuff" has changed!  I don't know how to make anything look "normal."

Grrrrrrrr!

Something else to come after I figure out how to work this new stuff...

China

Good Evening, All!

It IS a good evening - even though I'm just reading now that the Chinese program headquarters of Heifer International (one of my most favorite charities in the world - the one I'd give up a lot to work for!) - are in the city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, which is the city 50 miles from the epicenter of this past week's unbelievably devastating earthquake.  Heifer is working hard at restoring communication with their China programs offices, and to begin assessing the damage to their programs.

I'm struck by the fact that their work in China will now be more vital than ever, with potentially thousands of people who might now need their assistance - and didn't before.  I'm also struck by the fact that I can't even fathom "thousands of people," or surviving an earthquake like China saw this week.

If you are in a position to do so, perhaps consider a little donation to Heifer to help with their work in China?  Food Gatherers can, of course, help locally - where there are (unfortunately) more than a few people who could use our support.

The cyclone in Myanmar/Burma...  The earthquake in China...  The tornadoes in our own country - in a polluted town that will likely not even be rebuilt...  And even the challenges locally that we can hardly afford to address!

Life sure is good here in our new home in Ann Arbor.  What in the world did I do to deserve this life of luxury, this job of challenge and fun, these cats of questionable behavior, and this husband of incredibly beautiful love?

Be well in this world, Friends - and be taking care of yourselves in these moments of challenge to our world.

Very Funny, Mother Nature

Alright, you Goddess, you.  What the heck is this?!?  A snow advisory, says the all-knowing weather channel?!?

For anyone out there with connections to Mother Nature, could you please send her a message from me?  It should simply say "however you spell that raspberries sound."

On a lighter note, I managed to dramatically cut my index finger and finger nail today at work - with scissors, so my typing is slightly impaired and almost as entertaining as my top speed normal typing.  At some point the bandaid is going to get permanently snagged between two keys and I'll never be able to leave the computer.  Good thing it's a laptop!

Here's to spring, in spite of the snowy joke outside.  Haha.  Reeeeally funny, Mother Nature. Enjoy this lovely spring picture by John - taken on the first full day of spring, showing you just how green and lush everything is in our yard.

Happy Thursday eve, All!

Are you kidding, Typepad?!?

I just finished a really good update-on-life post.

Typepad just finished losing it.

I'll try to do something again later, Dagnabbit!

(Happy Friday to All, Anyway!)

COSI

Good Evening, Friends!

If you are in the Toledo area and have an opportunity, please consider going to visit COSI one last time before they close on December 31.  (Although I should point out COSI is closed on Mondays, and so perhaps their last day will actually be Sunday the 30th?)

I'll be there trying to fit in a brief visit yet this week and trying not to feel as sad and angry as I do about the situation.

It's a wonderful place - check it out again before it's gone!

What Next?

Many of you may know already about the COSI levy defeat on yesterday's vote in Toledo.  I have a mixture of disbelief, full belief, and anger about this.  I also have a bit of a broken heart.  I love the place (this is the science center I used to work for, and loved dearly while I was there).  I am also angry that the current "powers that be" let this happen.  In emails with a few friends and former coworkers today we have all expressed the same things, and also hope that "they" can still pull together some sort of existence.

Curses!

Stupid Computer

Today's little experiment/quiz/test:  How many error messages, blue screens of death, frozen applications, and/or other annoying computing challenges does it take before Alison chucks her computer into little Ford Lake?

We're not there yet, but getting closer...

On a lighter note:  At least when most of the "useable" functions on my PC cease to function, I get to spend more time gazing at the artsy picture of my cute husband that is my desktop!

Things that go Bump in the night

Good Monday to you, All!

Last night was my first night "on my own" managing the club.  Sort of on my own, at least - with great support from the manager who's been training me.  All went well.  Until I left the club, that is.

I was rear-ended (a VERY minor incident, no lasting issue) on the street at a red light just outside the parking lot.  I had been sitting at the red light for more than several seconds.  Then Bang.  Grrrr.  Enough of a bump to push me several inches forward.  And not enough of a bump for me to be 100% sure that I had been hit.  I look in the mirror (and say a few choice things out loud within my car), and there's a guy who clearly just bumped me.

The light changes, and I put on my emergency flashers, pull through the light (I was in the center lane, and partially in the intersection), off to the right.  Get out of Charlotte, just as the driver behind me drives right past and away.

What?!?

I need to look at Charlotte in daylight now, but I think everything is fine.  One minor dent at the bottom of the bumper as far as I could tell in the dark.  But come on...  who just drives away?

Thanks for "listening" to me vent, Friends!  Happy Monday to you, and Happy Holiday Week as well.

Peace!

Lessons in Tolerance

Good afternoon, All.  I had trouble picking a category for this small set of thoughts.  I'm working at not feeling "grrrr" about this topic, but at the moment...  it's still grrrr.

Why do I continue to be so annoyed by our new-ish neighbor?  She's a nice person, I suspect she's had some challenges in her life, and I don't really have a reason to dislike her.  But then...  it's partly the smoking, often in the yard or on her porch, often in front of our open doors  and/or windows, and often with a nice supply of smoke floating right into our house.  And there's a second person who's living there now (only the woman in the beginning), not sure who he is or if he's permanent, but he's just not "warm fuzzy."  (Uhh, which isn't a crime)  And the peculiar parking habits of the neighbor's daughter when she comes to visit.  And the neighbor's adorable, but poorly behaved dog (this used to be a no-dogs property).   I love dogs - I wish to have a dog - and her dog is pretty cute.  He's very "dog," but I'm not sure she's all about having a dog who is very "dog."  (Lots of yelling...  in response to the normal things dogs do.)

<sigh> 

This is a set of lessons for me, I think.  Right?

Happy Friday, All - have a beautiful weekend!

New Sandals, Part II

I've just finished ordering a second pair of my new fancy Keen sandals.  No, not a second pair...  but a second order after I canceled the first order because they were back ordered.  I called the company to check on the back order and see if I might actually get them.  The helpful person said "Ohhhh, we just found out we can't get those at all.  Would you like to substitute another product?"

Umm, no?  I want the sandals I picked out!  So, on to another site - with free shipping!

<waiting patiently for her new sandals>

Good evening, Friends!  Be Good!