employee of the universe

suck it, originally uploaded by lalapapawawa.

I was the only one who bothered to go in today. It wasn't because I wanted to or because I value martyrdom. It was because while my company would regret that I couldn't get in, they wouldn't have paid me. And I am the only employee in the office who's in that boat.

Okay, persecution complex MAYBE.

---Laura

the double edged life

I learned a valuable lesson in the new year. Having financial debt when I did cost me what I never wanted to lose. It made me weak when I needed to be able to step out and grab for the kind of life I really wanted.
Today, I feel left behind. Proud that I have learned from my mistake. Pained that I have learned so late.

-Laura

New Bird

Dark-Eyed Junco, slate colored race, originally uploaded by lalapapawawa.

By the way, during New Year's I identified a new visitor to my feeders. It's a Dark-eyed Junco. I've never seen them here, so I'm assuming they are passing through.

I've learned a lot this year.

-Laura

Sunshine on my shoulder

Sunshine on my shoulder, originally uploaded by lalapapawawa.

It was 19 degrees when I woke up this morning. Not a day for outdoor sports. But I had a new birding pole, which you can barely see in the picture above. I found the 3lb hammer, I shoved it in the ground, I tried unsuccessfully to break the water in the water dish I have for the birds, then filled all the feeders and went inside. That done, I kept myself busy indoors. I made suet. I made a big pot of vegetable stew with brown rice. I made a cake. I planted lettuce in a window planter.

But the sunshine was great outside, it really wanted to lure us outside to play. So I left the front door open to see what the dogs would do. Mollie was mostly interested in action - squirrels, cats, birds. I won't say Petey wasn't, but his treat was laying there in the sun until he got so hot he was panting. Really.

It was a sweet, quiet, homey way to end the holiday season. I even washed the front door's glass so I could take pictures through it. And that's when it felt like a new year to me -- I don't usually leave the front door open because it exposes the livingroom to passersby. But there were no passersby today, and the dogs loved it. I don't usually have a bird feeder in the front yard, but there are dozens of birds who sit in my dogwood trees all day.

Things can be different. Different can be good. The quiet can illuminate. It was refreshing. The good mood might just last me through lunchtime on Monday.

--Laura