Pix 'n Prose: Currently. Sept 2015

Things I am currently:

Obsessing over,
Working on,
Thinking about,
Anticipating,
Listening to,
Eating,
Praying for,
Reading,

Remembering, Happy about.

1. I am obsessing over:

I'm leaving on Sunday for Arizona and do not own a bathing suit.

Trying to arrange a Thanksgiving dinner me + for 3 boys. It shouldn't be this difficult. Good thing I'm in Project Management, because this is definitely a project that needs managing.

My new boots. I bought two pair - one in brown. One in black. But since I've purchased them the weather has been HOT. Like flip flop weather hot. But. Seriously? Flips flops to work after summer officially ends, with non-pedi'd toes is wrong x 1000.

I STILL haven't bought a butane curling iron. I am a loser when it comes to shopping. Why do I hate malls so much?

I am still deeply affected by the HUMANS OF NEW YORK posts. This current set has Brandon in Europe, visiting refugee camps. He's photographing the residents, the workers, the folks who are volunteering. My heart aches with each new post. If you don't follow him (Brandon) on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest, go to his blog here. There are SO MANY PEOPLE who don't have homes/don't have a country/don't feel safe/have been abused. How,how,HOW did I get to be so lucky?

2. I am working on:

learning a new way to share photos. Clint is encouraging me to use We Transfer instead of burning DVD's for my friends/photo subjects. First batch are uploading now... it's only going to take 3 hours.

getting my home office, and my work office, tidied/cleaned up before the long Thanksgiving weekend. I have a new "assistant" at work to help me prepare and forward PO's and do my light filing. If I die on this vacation, I should like to think that anyone having to rummage through either of my desks would be impressed with how organized and up to date I am.

not enough things. It's once a month, when I sit down to do this list - things I am working on - when I realize I could/should be working on a whole lot more. Like, coming up with a do-able exercise plan. Putting myself on a budget. Reading my Bible more intentionally. Responding to emails and texts in a more timely manner. I should work on my punctuality. My bedtime. My need for more fibre. WHY AM I NEVER WORKING ON THESE THINGS? I will. This coming month? I will start working on amazing thing. You will not recognize me.

3. I am thinking about:

my friend Marg who starts an intense 6 months of Chemo in a few days.

Newlyweds and all that shiny, glowing, fresh love.

New grandchildren, and how my friends go all soft and gooey when talking about them.

The fall. And how it's a season to begin things. At least for me it always has been. What have I started?

Grieving. And how there are so many people in my life in the midst of that emotion right now, and I don't know what to do. Bring popsicles? Have flowers delivered?

My boys. I'm always thinking about them.

My daughter-in-laws. And how I love them already. And can hardly wait to meet them. Haha.

My role as grandma. Almost all of my grandma-friends are doing at least one day of daycare. Arrrrgh. I will not be that grandma. I am going to work right up til the day of my funeral. Which I will have planned out in advance so as to not inconvenience anyone.

Next year. When my dad died, I told my mom I'd stay for one more year. I've been looking at apartments and townhomes online and wonder where I'll be living next summer... I hope it has wood floors and a brick wall. And a southern balcony/deck. And room for 8 people to sit around a table. And a place for those 8 people to park their cars.

Planning a Good Ideas party, just like the one I had in 2012. I love it when women share their good ideas.

4. I am anticipating:

A week in Arizona. First, a couple days in Sedona (check that one off the bucket list) then the rest of the week in Phoenix. Hopefully going to watch a hockey game while we're there...
Attending another Public Salon event at the end of October. SO interesting when we went to our first one last April.
Attending an Alpha meeting or two this month. First time ever.
Celebrating Thanksgiving in a, most-likely, non-traditional way.
Celebrating a birthday or two.
Discussing another great book with some friends this month.
Reading 3 - 4 books next week and I can hardly wait.

5. I am listening to:

Again. No new songs added to my playlist this month. Anyone have a recommendation? I'm in a slump.

6. I am eating:

NEW FOODS I'VE TRIED THIS MONTH - both thanks to my attendance at weddings:1. rutabaga. 2. butternut squash lasagne

7. I am praying for:

People I care about who have a child struggling with addiction.
People I care about who are living in recovery.
People I care about who are mourning the deaths of someone they loved.
Couples who are struggling to get pregnant.
People with cancer, or chronic illness, or aches and pains.
The whole refugee crisis.
Leaders. Political leaders. Business leaders. Church leaders. Organizational leaders.
The entertainment industry; from the producers, directors, script-writers, set-designers, carpenters, actors, camera crew, costume makers to the make up people.
Friends who write books.
My kids, their friends, their girlfriends, their employers, their co-workers, their roommates, their landlords, their neighbours ...

8. I am reading:

An Echo in the Bone (book 7 of the Outlander series)
Station 11 (a re-read for book club) GREAT discussion, and still has me thinking...
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes (I stayed up til 4 am two nights in a row to start and finish it.)
The Royal We (written by the Go Fug Yourself girls. I enjoy their blog, and the book was on sale for $3.99 on my Kindle...) This book has tainted my opinion of Wills, Kate and Harry forever. Haha.

9. I am remembering/Happy about:

Evening/night walks in Vancouver. And shopping (!) at the London Drugs in Olympic Village. (That one's become my LD.)

Remembering my trip to the Yukon.

I loved getting a glimpse into a totally different way of life. Was in awe of the stunning, stark, vast, epic landscapes. Thrilled to stay with Arj and Karm and share their lives for 4 days. Still remembering that cupcake. Smiling about the morning we spent at the Wildlife Centre. And will probably never get over the trauma of sharing a hotel room with a married couple and snoring in bed beside them.

Also remembering the 'field trip' we went on the day after I got back from the Yukon ... 6 designers in a borrowed van, got lost in Vancouver before getting a tour of Met Printers: