santa monica

santa monica

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sweltering Heat

Just a few weeks back, we were enjoying the cooler weather in spring like manner, and now, we are hovering in the 90s with high humidity. Dog had to have a summer cut as he was starting to pant not more than five minutes after starting our afternoon walks. I can't blame him though, even I have a hard time. Some days I have a huge floppy hat on with my sunglasses! It just makes me that much more determined to get to the beach! The park was infested with womping mosquitoes until the city decided to spray this past week. Dog and I would come out running and covered in gray, now, it's good.

I have started working with the American Institute of Research doing Math and Science assessments from the Bill Gates funded programs in Chicago. I find Math and Science a lot less stressful than English, as there is not much room for subjectivity. YAY ! I am on an excellent team of people, and already feel attached since we have out performed most of the other teams on the projects. again, YAY!!!!

Oh, and I did received approval for the scholarship for school. I ended up choosing a "Master of Design" program at a private computer school. I'm sooooooooooo excited. I have been wanting to take this program for some four years now. What I am happy about, however, is that since I've had to wait, the upgraded versions of the softwares are so much sweeter than the versions I started with years ago! Easier too! Check out the Adobe Creative Suite 5 MASTER COLLECTION and the list of every program it contains! That is only part of what I will be learning, I am so super psyched!

As you can imagine, my schedule has become extremely busy. I think my son will be in town next month for a little while, and then his best friend gets married in October, so in between, I have to accomplish as much as possible! Phew! I did manage to get to a birthday party this week where it was my pleasure to see some old friends I haven't seen in awhile. I think I'm invited to a party over the 4th as well.

This weekend I have caught up on the series "Merlin" on SyFy, saw the Finale of "Tudors" which made me shed heavy tears! and watched "Broke Back Mountain" from start to finish (finally) and it was GREAT, and I shed many more tears!!!!! I Picked up "Legion" from the vid store, and thought it was "ok"....Ghost Hunter's Academy (lame), Design Star (lame), a couple of episodes of "House Hunting" on HGTV, a little World Cup Soccer, a little Tennis, a little NASCAR and now I am going to go finish up my laundry.....while dreaming of next week's three day weekend!

Peace.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Crispy Walk

One of the perks of living in the northern half of the United States is that summer comes a little later than in other regions. Actual summer comes after the date of "summer" instead of sweltering two months before! I woke up this morning to cool, crisp and wonderfully inviting weather. The only element that would have made it better for me would be the addition of a beach near by. I even slipped on a sweater as the dog and I stepped out to take a walk around the neighborhood. How nice it would be to hear the waves. My BFF and another BF will be in Myrtle Beach this week enjoying the summer sunshine. Every year I think I'm going to join them, and never get to. Again, we joke that we will be running around chasing men in our wheel chairs one day. Together at last!

So this walk, included a circus of Mother Nature's creatures coming out to enjoy the morning themselves, and to keep from getting my arms jerked out of their sockets, I allowed the dog more leash. I attempted to let him know I am NOT alright with him chasing the rabbits and the squirrels, even though I know it is in his nature. A tricky situation indeed. He likes to dance around with the birds as well, and they don't seem to mind. I am in awe of how happy he is with being alive. Such a wonderful soul!

I have lived out of the city for some 8 years or so and cherish these mornings of peaceful walks through my suburb. It's when TIME itself slows down. I only realize how spoiled I am out when I have to drive into the city every day to work. It is very annoying. And, there are the usual errands and repairs to the car, etc etc etc.
But, for today, I am going to enjoy this sweet adventure since I will be kicking into a new contract next week.

Today there are some interesting political primaries going on. Especially, California and South Carolina and Nevada. If only we could get the Gulf oil spill cleaned up.

As I've written many times lately, I've been doing a lot of socializing and reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances. My Facebook is growing. I feel so blessed to know so many talented and good people! However, seeing people face to face is a little different than just talking to them on Facebook. Not to mention the fact that people's looks can change dramatically, including my own. Snickering to myself this morning, I remembered a conversation this past weekend where I was reminding someone who I was, what I've been involved with, what color hair I had, and oh, "....you just "Friended" me a few days ago..." in which there was "....oh yea yea yea...now I remember!"

*sigh* How did we ever live without social networking?????
It is one of my guilty pleasures.

I do have a watercolor to paint for a friend's mother's birthday, so I will make a trip to the art store today and pick up what I need and get to it and I've noticed I have many new flower blooms in my garden, so I'll be pruning and taking photos in reverence to their beauty! So for today, I am in a "rare" form of blissful content.

Best wishes