Work

This summer is turning out to be not one I would want.  I am working more hours at Alco than I want.  It is messing up my planned routine.  I wanted to write in the mornings, clean on certain days, work outside in the afternoon and go to the library.  Well, it's not happening.  I will have worked 10 days in a row before a day off.  I have worked 20 hours a week and now this week is 30 hours...I am not a happy camper.  But it is forcing me to reorganize my time and to make the most of the moments.
I would like to think of myself as flexible but in reality I'm not.  When I have a set plan it throws me for a loop but I can make it work.  So now I am rethinking my plan and making it work within the time perimeters.

Puppy

We found a puppy.  She was at the adoption center in Brookings.  She's so little.  She and another puppy were found in a ditch so they were not sure of her age.  She definitely has sharp little teeth that are white white.  Digger watches her.  He has his boundaries.  He lets her play with his tail until she chomps down on it.  He'll let her walk over him while he's laying down.  She can't reach his face when he sits so she tries to jump up.   She wants to snuff his ears which he likes.  Now Bailey from the start growls at her if she gets within 3 feet of her.  But yesterday, she was running and brushed up against Bailey, who snorted at her.
Her job, every critter here has a job, is to be Digger's playmate.
There's something heart touching with babies regardless of their genius.  Is it the wonder of a new beginning or being able to see the world through new eyes?  Whichever it is great fun.

DKG Leadership Seminar Leadership Seminar

I have just returned from a Leadership Seminar sponsored by Upsilon State of Delta Kappa Gamma and it was informative, fast paced, interactive, work and thought provoking.  I can tell you some of the concrete things I learned about myself, my leadership style, stress management and the conducting a meeting; but what is harder to describe is the internal feeling.  Something happens through osmosis. When I think of myself now in a leadership role I feel different.  I've always been able to do the things that need to be done but now I feel I can project the confidence of leading a team to the end of a vision.  It's a feeling of knowing how to complete a journey.
Some may think that the 2 days should be stretch out over a week but I think the compact time creates a dependency on the other members of the group.   Friendships are built through the need to survive and strangers become people you can depend on to be there when you need them.
The time the trainers have put into planning and organizing this seminar is huge.  They were ready for us.  They had thought through the progression of presentations.  They were delivers and listeners.  They were patient yet direct when needed.  I appreciate all they gave to the seminar to make it a winning experience.

working in the garden

I spent some time outside in my herb garden.  I sit on the ground.  My hands protected with gloves.  My ears open to the birds singing and talking to each other.  A woodpecker suddenly decides to hunt for bugs at the top of a dying tree.  I watch the tree tops move in the breeze and feel it on my cheeks.  Breaking sticks in the grove, Digger is out wandering.  I know he'll be coming around to check on me soon.  This is when my mind wanders.  This is when I think.  This is where I can look at what I have done and sigh and know it looks better than it did.

Miss Mini

Yup, Miss Mini and I have the same feeling this morning.  Need to shake it off.

Ramblin'

I have these 2 days off from Alco and I plan to work outside and do some writing.  I will finally get the herbs planted and some of the weeds yanked.  But first I have to get my lawn mower out of the tree.
The little birds are busy.  There is a little sparrow building a next in the bush next to the window.  I can't see the nest but I watch the little guy as he disappears within a cluster of leaves.
A pair of barn sparrows finally made up their minds as to where in the garage they would build a nest.  I guess they didn't want to use the previous places.
The poppies are finally blooming.  The flowers are late this year, probably because of the late ice and snow storms (end of April) we had.  Looks like I need to mow again but not today.
My thoughts are rambling.  I wonder if that is any indication of what I will accomplish today?

stuck mower

Today it is dark and gloomy.  Yesterday I was mowing and mowing.  I had almost finished when I drove into a tree.  That in itself is no surprise.  I'm a lousy driver.  What was a surprise was not being able to back up or go forward.  The mower was stuck in the tree.  A branch  of the tree was caught between the bumpers.  I listened to the garden fairies and decided I was done for the day.  Tomorrow, I'll take a saw and remove the limb.  But today is dark and gloomy so maybe tomorrow.

Readers

Today I'm thinking about writers.  I think writers spend as much time reading about writing as they do actually writing.  There is quite a market for writing related topics.  Writers are readers and some readers are writers.

It's a cold day.  I'm feeling pushed, not physically but emotionally.  There are different feelings churning pushing and pulling inside.  I worry.  I dream.  I hide.  I simmer.  I regret.  I cry.  I smile.

Emotions

I've been reading Second Sight, by Cheryl Klein.  She talks about characters that make you feel.  A story that creates emotions in the reader making some connection.  I thought about books I remember reading.  My favorite book as a kid was Secret Hiding Place.  I thought about why I still remember the story.  I remember how clever the little hippo was and how it made me smile.  The fairy tales evoke injustice and triumph.  Just looking outside my window now there is the feeling of contentment and peace.
Our brains.  I enjoy reading about how the brain works.  How could I have forgotten about the book I read  a few years ago, The Emotional Brain.    Everything we do and think has it's bases with some emotion.
I reread some of the stories that have been rejected and it's a "no-brainer" why.  There is no emotion.   Apathy is what there is.  I heard myself say, "Who cares?"  Well, I do.  Get out the kleenex, the koosh balls I'm going to write with emotion so my stories will show what I'm feeling.