tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75744722024-03-14T00:17:47.293-07:00Go. See. Do."To dream great dreams is itself an act of daring."Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.comBlogger566125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-70001685300358315072014-02-03T14:20:00.000-08:002014-02-03T14:20:09.409-08:00Time for a spot of tea.I am grateful from the little design training I have received over the years and therefore the words to express why something needs to change or be changed.<br />
I am grateful that I write well and that I still have years left to practice and get better.<br />
I am grateful that Brandon has a job with an interesting company, although I do not know if it's interesting enough.<br />
I am grateful for honey.<br />
I am grateful that I learned how to shape my nails so they will be strong and that with a little care they can look very nice.<br />
I am grateful that Beck likes the snow. There were many fun hours of skiing with him yesterday.<br />
I am grateful that I have a fridge full of fresh vegetables. And lots of garlic. This modern living thing is truly awesome - lest we forget some times. Fresh vegetables in winter is a miracle.<br />
I am grateful that I do not have an addiction to anything worse than coffee. I'm not 100 percent in the clear -- because coffee grown badly can have a negative impact on the environment and the people growing it. But I don't have to fear that it will kill me if I can't stop.<br />
I am grateful that my computer keeps working, though it requires some extra TLC these days and will soon need to be replaced. It has done a great job and lasted a long time.<br />
I am grateful that I have a boss who trusts me.<br />
I am grateful for greeting cards, which I eschew most of the time, but have taken a huge interest in over the last two weeks.<br />
I am grateful for my friends who will come over, eat pork chops, zucchini, carrots and baked cauliflower, and then spend 2 hours working on a jigsaw puzzle.<br />
I am grateful for the body's ability to heal my twisted knee, so that by Wednesday I should be able to climb again. And that yesterday it was strong enough to hold a wedge in cross country skies for a sustained, half-mile downhill.<br />
I am grateful the Peanut cleans Oscar's ears.<br />
I am grateful that the one thing I did not have to find for myself when I moved to Portland is a good hair stylist -- as my college roommate's little sister is here and gives the best haircuts I've ever gotten.<br />
I am grateful that I did not grow up with my friend's Korean mother, who is most definitely mentally ill -- on top of being a Tiger Mom from Hell.<br />
I am grateful for the Internet, internet comparison shopping, free shipping and the US Postal service.<br />
I am grateful for the inspiration I got from my friends and the new adventure I will soon undertake when we start to get a weekly share of vegetables from a local CSA.<br />
I am grateful I know how to clean.<br />
And I am grateful for tea kettles.<br />
<br />
<br />Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-4379395553071515082013-09-02T08:03:00.002-07:002013-09-02T08:03:52.605-07:00What I learned on my mid-life vacation to TexasI want to talk about climate change. No. Not Global Warming... although that is real and dangerous and still needs much dicussing.<br />
<br />
No, I have moved to Oregon. Where. It's. Cooler. And I haven't slept past 6:30 a.m. yet. Not one single time. I'm exhausted and I have a terrible sinus headache. Yesterday, I got a nose bleed at bed time. Don't ask me how. It's humid here. And we spent the day at the ocean, where salt was in the air. And it was definitely NOT hot. Nor even really warm. Really.<br />
<br />
So although I am exhausted and hurting, it's really very nice here. The climate is awesome.<br />
<br />
Well, except maybe the political (Small p - from the word polis, meaning the people) climate. You see, when I moved to Texas, I had to learn not to be so rigid. Because, well, no one thought like me. 18 years ago there was NO curbside recycling, there were very few coffee shops, the idea of wearing no makeup to work, not shaving and letting your hair grey naturally was as foreign as kimchii. And saying you were pro gay marriage was likely to get you tarred and feathered.<br />
<br />
So I learned to build reltaionships on commonalities, and let things roll off my back. Texas, you made me a better person, and for that, I do love you.<br />
<br />
Oregonians, it turns out, are a self-righteous bunch who need to leave their little green shire and visit some places where people's happiness is not granted by sheer physical beauty and a comfy climate, but requires the choice to be a good, happy, productive and joyful person. You can make a life anywhere. And you can make anywhere miserable.<br />
<br />
I am fairly sure I made several people completely miserable yesterday and ruined their entire day by failing to accede to their particular view of right and wrong. Maybe I've got a little Texan in me after all. Or, maybe I'm just a lot more sure of me after 18 years of being allowed to reinvent me in a foreign place. <br />
<br />
Either way, I'm kinda struggling here. In Texas, I had friends with entirely organic gardens and I could go next door where the Red Neck Lesbian and her Diva wife would fix me guacamole and let me sit on the floor and cry. Riding my bike to the restaurant made me smarter than everyone else. Wearing chaco's caught people's attention. Rescuing dogs seemed noble and not self righteous. And knowing how to buy and cook a salmon steak made me unique.<br />
<br />
Here I'm conservative with my lack of tattoos and piercings, I lack indignation over cruelty to kelp flies, and I cannot get my head to stop pounding in my tired, tired skull.<br />
<br />
Ah... Change.... maybe I can find enough in the junk drawer to go buy myself an organic, single source, locally roasted, fair trade cup of coffee with hemp milk and honey from backyard bees.<br />
<br />
<br />Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-69059026325957231322013-06-27T15:38:00.002-07:002013-09-02T08:06:56.315-07:00A tribute to TylerTyler always knew what night the trash went out.<br />
And so, if he were to escape, it would be on a Monday.<br />
He'd always turn right, and then you'd find them: a string of knocked-over trash cans, contents strewn about, with Tyler standing in the middle of his latest conquest, gulping down whatever he found to eat.<br />
Sometimes, we'd have trouble getting him home. Not because he didn't want to go, but because he smelled so badly of the neighbor's refuse, that it was nearly impossible to drive.<br />
Aside from being the neighborhood's preeminent slayer of garbage bags, Tyler was also adept at hunting up smelly things at the lake.<br />
Used diapers. Rotting bbq. Coyote poop. Dead fish.<br />
Once, I used an entire bottle (32 oz size) of someone else's shampoo to scrub and scrub him after he rolled in a catfish carcass and then happily came up to rub against my legs. We stood in the waves on the shores of Lake Grapevine and I rubbed sand and more sand and even more sand into his fur to loosen the glue-like rotting flesh and then shampoo out that one-of-a-kind smell.<br />
To no avail.<br />
It was summer. It was hot. We're in Texas. I had cloth seats.<br />
Needless to say Tyler rode the 7 miles home in the trunk of my Jetta. And slept on the back porch.<br />
His craziest behavior, however, he reserved for that little-known treasure that melts all doggie hearts - Wonder bread.<br />
Not once. Not twice. But multiple times, Tyler would wander from camp only to return with a loaf of white bread. A loaf of bread within a 1 mile radius was in serious danger when he was around. I was even told by some fellow campers that he'd foregone their steaks to take the bread off their table.<br />
This said, he did not only favor bread while camping.<br />
Once, he escaped the house while a friend was dog sitting. She called, frantic. "Will he come home?"<br />
I suggested she needed to track him down, but then came the text: "Never mind, he's back."<br />
Followed by: "He found a loaf of bread."<br />
He'd gone down the alley and I can only imagine that the fluffy white stuff was sitting atop someone's yet-unloaded grocery bag.<br />
Thank goodness his theft never amounted to more than about $4 and .50 cents.<br />
Tyler never hated anyone. Except one night when the cops came to the house. Mr. Policeman was there to take a report on our stolen bikes. Tyler walked up to the diminutive male human, put one paw on each shoulder and looked him square in the eyes. No barking. No growling. No nothing.<br />
Just his way of saying, "This is my house."<br />
Well, and he once barked viciously at a puppy who was dumb and climbed into the camper. Still haven't figured that one out. But, never-the-less, puppy learned his place.<br />
All my dogs are taught to "get back" when someone is opening a door. When my Ex's kids visited with their beagle puppy, that puppy was not hip to what "get back" meant. After hearing "get back" several times and not seeing the puppy retreat, Tyler walked up, gently took the pup by the nape of the neck and pulled her back so the door could be opened.<br />
It might have been dinner time. The matter was urgent. But whatever, on that day my Labrador was smarter than your average grade-school kid.<br />
And so I recount the wonderful stories of my first and most well-loved doggie. He didn't fight with his sisters, pee on the carpets, kill the neighbor's cat, or growl at anyone he knew. Ever.<br />
He got lost. Spent one night in jail. Covered me in poison ivy more times than I could count. Took to barking at me whenever he needed anything in the last year of his life, when he couldn't get up without my help. And was always, always, always happy to see me.<br />
Fifteen years is a long time for an 85 pound dog. I wouldn't have traded a single moment of it all and I wish only that his last 24 hours - which were the only 24 hours he suffered - had not been so hard.<br />
We choose our pets knowing they will leave here before we do.<br />
At least mine had the consistency we've all come to know and love him for: He left on a Monday night.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-62088257286604035222013-05-15T16:09:00.002-07:002013-05-15T16:09:12.863-07:00Today got away from me. But it started out so promising. I made gluten free pancakes and they were exactly what I needed.<br />
<br />
That is all.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-3773182707579426752013-04-29T13:38:00.001-07:002013-04-29T13:38:56.319-07:00So many questions seeking your answers.So I decided that I needed to throw out some jog bras that Lisa Butler helped me buy in 1998... or maybe 1997. They were expensive, well-made bras that fit well and we bought them on sale. They lasted a VERY long time.<br />
But now, the elastic is crackly and ... yeah, it's just time.<br />
<br />
I have two - count them: 2 - of the best jog bras made. Fiona, made by Moving Comfort. I really need more of these, but like almost everything I own, I want to buy them either used (OK, we're really talking about furniture, bikes and cars here), or deeply discounted.<br />
<br />
So, the dilemma: Do I go ahead and buy what I love and what I know will work and fit and such, and spend a lot initially.... expecting that they'll last me a decade like the ones I bought so long ago? This, btw, means that they will cost me fractions of a penny per use! Or do I buy something less expensive and wait until what I want is available at a price I can stomach without question?<br />
<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
This last weekend at Scarborough was nice and cool. Today? 87 degrees.<br />
What this actually has to do with Scarborough is questionable.... what I'm really interested in is how, after 17 years, I'm still not sure what to make of these drastic and sudden season changes that happen here in North Texas.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
My father is paying for my hotel in Steamboat for the four days that Brandon and I will be there during the week of our wedding. It's not that much, thank god, since the whole damn point was not to throw a costly wedding. In fact, we joked that he would not be paying for a horse-drawn carriage nor footmen. I said they'd be bored... pulling an empty carriage around while Brandon and I skied to the bottom of the mountain.<br />
Brandon's mother wanted to know if there was anything she could do for us. I wanted to say, "help Ryan and Maddie get to Colorado." But I didn't.<br />
The other thing we don't really want (nor have any clue what to do with) is presents.... and this is a very timely topic because Brandon just moved in here and there is SO MUCH STUFF in this house now that every time a cupboard gets opened, I am certain that something will fall out.<br />
So I'm toying with two ideas.... we can register for PetSmart gift cards to use to feed out animals or rescue more dogs and cats. Or we can register for Home Depot cards, which funds will be used to rehab the floor, put in new windows or - goDs forbid it isn't done yet - scrape and repaint the house.<br />
Or, I can have everyone give to Heifer International - and organization I have long supported, or the SPCA or Planned Parenthood (which seems to be much more under attack, but might be much less acceptable to his extended family).<br />
So... that's the quandrie.<br />
Thoughts?<br />
<br />Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-1189248234866701342013-04-19T09:34:00.001-07:002013-04-19T09:34:31.998-07:00An attempt at the mundaneSometimes the mundane is comforting.<br />
So, for instance, while Boston is on lock down and West, Tx rebuilds from it's horrific explosion, there are an awful lot of things piling up on my to-do list.<br />
<br />
1. Trim dogs toenails.<br />
2. Trim cats toenails<br />
3. Organize garage<br />
4. Rearrange attic<br />
5. build solar screens for the third bedroom<br />
6. Mow the forest - err -lawn (edge, blow off debris).<br />
7. Pull weeds in vegetable garden<br />
8. patch concrete holes in sidewalk<br />
9. hang curtains.<br />
10. Buy a shower curtain that I actually like<br />
11. Clean out baking supplies<br />
12. Grout shower<br />
13. Fix Cat Condo<br />
14. Make new covers for pillows<br />
15. Unload dishwasher<br />
16. Laundry<br />
17. Dry cleaning<br />
18 Return sheets<br />
19 Mail mother's day present <br />
<br />
and I am sure the list goes on.<br />
As does my life.<br />
For which I am actually extremely grateful.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-73043913301450192352013-04-16T11:05:00.001-07:002013-04-16T11:05:17.237-07:00I have never wanted to run more in my lifeYesterday, the explosions in Boston were too new. Too unexplained. Too surrounded in unknowns. Too anonymous.<br />
Today, I see the face of the 8 year old who died. I hear the voices of all those interviewed who were there, who ran away, who ran to help, who ran - for their own glory, for charity and for their lives, and I am overcome by heavy sadness.<br />
I have been a runner for almost two decades. Even now, when I can not run because my ankle simply has been broken too many times, I am still a runner. It's like being an alcoholic - you may no longer drink but you will always self-identify as such.<br />
Races are magical. Race day is like a party and a vacation and a community festival and a trial and a test all in one. Races run take away all the pain. All the outside noise of life. And all the crap.<br />
When you are running you glory in movement and breathing. When you are running, the gap between you and the eternal is closed and you are one with god.<br />
Certainly not always. Certainly not every race, especially if you are unprepared, or injured, or it just isn't your day. But on the days when it is right, running is all the things I mention above and the exact opposite of terrorism.<br />
And so I add my voice to those affected by this selfish and cowardly deed. I have not bled. I was not scared. I will not fear.<br />
And yet I mourn. For the 8 year old. For his father. And for all of us, who have ever gloried in the race well run and never, ever imagined yesterday would come.<br />
<br />
Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-14169729087198939962013-03-26T10:54:00.001-07:002013-03-26T10:54:40.949-07:00This hipster, locavore, comfort food BS is wearing thinOk, what the hell is the deal with ugly wait staff and ugly menus and ugly dishes?<br />Really... what is it?<br />
I am supposed to love Company Cafe because they are Gluten Free. And they are the only ones. But the truth is, their wait staff are badly dressed slobs with attitudes. It's always cold in the restaurants, every time I go. To either one. And the food is pretty uninspired.<br />
I'm not thrilled with Bolsa or Smoke or Oddfellows, either.<br />
Sure, they're local. Sure, they do a few things well. But they have the same grumpy, hipster, poorly dressed wait staff. And the same shitty attitude.<br />
When Tillman's did Broke Back Mountain Plaid, it was fun, and purposeful and still pretty new. Now, it's just ridiculous how much badly fitting plaid you see on wait staff everywhere.<br />
Oddfellows atmosphere is strained by their pretentiousness around food that my grandmother could have kicked their asses at preparing. And the coffee is just. not. that. good.<br />
What I like least is the inconsistency. Some days the green beans at Company Cafe are the best I've ever had. Some days, they're cold and rubbery.<br />
Some days the salads at Bolsa are nearly alive they're so fresh. Other times... drowned in their own dressing.<br />
Am I the only one who's supposed to like these places because they're cool and get good reviews and who just can't get that excited any more...<br />
Today, I found out that Oddfellows, the quintessentially community restaurant - serving food grown in the Texas community - wouldn't put up a lost dog poster. Really? This is Oak Cliff.<br />
You can get over yourself. I'm pretty sure I can get a tastier breakfast for less money at El Jordan.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-30300875816013969532013-03-11T11:19:00.003-07:002013-03-11T11:20:02.085-07:00I am attempting a new cocktail of drugs. Dayquil plus Mucinex. Not that I necessarily want more drugs in my system, but I can't seem to shake this stupid cold. So, the Dayquil has acetaminophen (Tylenol), plus the ingredients in cough syrup (minus the codeine) and the ingredients in Sudafed. The Mucinex is for thinning the mucus. I need it out of my head, and I don't want it to clog my lungs, and I can't keep coughing it up because I've already ruined on Chiropractic adjustment and on a part-time income I cannot afford to just throw away money.<br />
Last night I coughed for at least two hours. Consequently, I have sore ribs. I slept late. And no one else got to sleep on time either. I wanted to avoid taking any codeine-laced cough syrup because the codeine makes random parts of my body numb. I am not a fan.<br />
And, I have not been to Yoga in a week. It feels like a month. I haven't climbed, ridden or even walked. I am not taking care of myself so that I can get better. I am simply trying to stay awake and keep from drowning in my own phlegm.<br />
****<br />
North Korea is an irrational place. And I am scared.... really scared... to think what they are going to do next. I'm just wondering if it's not time to take out the regime by force. And you guys know me. You know I do not often speak of using force to solve ANY international problems. But really. REALLY.<br />
****<br />
Brandon got a road bike and road to work. I am so happy for him. He researched and bought it used. And he got a pretty good deal. I think he's really going to enjoy it. Not that we have time to be on our bikes. Ever. This weekend we could have ridden but I was sick and then it rained.<br />
****<br />
How do you take all the things you're supposed to take in a day, never mind the drug cocktail mentioned above, and not feel like a freak?<br />
I want to take pro-biotics, food enzymes, anti-oxidents (Acai?), Omega-3 (fish oil, flax seed), vitamin C (emergen-C), and Vitamins B and D. By the time I force down all those things, I am gagging and have over-eaten. Not to mention, I am not entirely sure they don't contradict each other.<br />
A multi-vitamin had not enough of the things listed above that I need, and other stuff I really don't want.<br />
Does anyone else find it odd that they're taking a long list of supplements every day? <br />
****<br />
Great Supper club last night. Except that I missed getting to eat salad. I am reminded how creative people can make things happen even in a tiny, tiny kitchen. I just hope we didn't stash a dirty pot somewhere so creative that it won't be found until the kitchen is remodeled.<br />
****<br />
Drug cocktail working. Nose is clear. Coughing has stopped. Not much pain. But, now all I want to do is sleep. Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-83814429232377548222013-03-05T13:06:00.000-08:002013-03-05T13:06:03.812-08:00Happiness vs. Being HappyI am trying to figure out this thing about Happiness.<br />
We're entitled to the 'pursuit' of it.<br />
But I have been questioning whether anyone knows what comprises it.<br />
And - honestly - whether it exists.<br />
<br />
Oh, trust me, I believe that there are times when I am happy. I happily ride my bike, throw down my mat for yoga, shop for ingredients for great dishes, plan ski trips, connect with old friends, read good books, help good candidates find great jobs, learn new things, rescue dogs and on and on and on. There are 1000s, if not millions, of things that make me happy. Sunsets. Sand. Soft sweaters. Shoes (no, I did not intend this whole list to start with S).<br />
<br />
But I am not sure being happy constitutes happiness. And even if it does, it's not a perpetual state. Nor something you have, or control, or acquire henceforth to hoard, or share, or time-cost average or quantify or place a monetary value on.<br />
<br />
Further, I think that expecting to be happy, and the corollary, being disappointed that you're not, can cause feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and depression. <br />
I have read that in other cultures, happiness is associated with luck.<br />
But in our society, we're even told that luck is something we make. Which means, of course, that if we're responsible for our own luck, then we're also responsible for every unlucky thing that happens, too. That's a lot of responsibility. And pretty darn overwhelming.<br />
<br />
I frequently break out an exercise in "gratitude" when I seem to be "not happy" for no particular reason. Another thing my brain does is remind me that most of my problems are first-world issues - like the fact that my favorite formula of Aussie hair spray only comes in the smaller size can at my local store instead of the large, economy size.<br />
<br />
So, it turns out, I <i>AM</i> grateful. I <i>DO</i> have perspective. I<i> KNOW</i> that I live a privileged, safe, secure and amazing life. But, does that mean I have Happiness?<br />
<br />
People tell me I am too hard on myself (eh, I don't think so) and that I'm never satisfied (not sure we should be - lest we become complacent, or ... lazy). One childhood friend describes me as "extremely serious." And so sometimes I wonder if I'm really a miserable person and that<i> I </i>just don't know what Happiness is, so how could I believe it exists?<br />
<br />
On the other hand, I do not strive to be 'rich,' as money is a lot less important to me as people, or experiences. I just want enough money to be comfortable. I also do not stay up late or get up early because I am driven by the rat race of our culture - sleep deprivation is the number one health problem among US adults - but I get 8 hours a night on a bad night.<br />
<br />
I have very little fear. But I guess I am a worrier. It's harder for me to put things out of my mind than I realized. And I don't support escaping reality through substances of any kind.<br />
<br />
One of the things I have been worried about is that I cannot seem to attain happiness. But upon further reflection, it's really that I just can't hold on to it.<br />
<br />
My guess is that no one can. My guess is that there's no such thing. My guess is that you can be happy, but happiness doesn't exist.<br />
<br />
And no, it's not just semantics.<br />
<br />
<br />Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-550929410959621192013-03-04T06:33:00.003-08:002013-03-04T06:33:59.944-08:00Human frailty exemplifiedVan Cliburn disappoints me after all. He remained a life-long Baptist.<br />
How can you love and support an institution that denies who you really are - or, worse yet, openly disdains you and thinks of you a evil itself?<br />
There is no way to reconcile Baptist views on homosexuality and Van Cliburn's support of the Baptist Church.<br />
In the end, it is a weakness of his that no one is discussing. And I am pretty darned disappointed.<br />
Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-33299474963141612332013-02-28T11:50:00.003-08:002013-02-28T11:50:59.681-08:00good things, one and allOk, so there's nothing going on in my personal life over which I have a single complaint. Usually, I pull this exercise out to spur a change in my attitude. But today, I don't need one. I was thinking how nice the weather is... and how great it is to be able to hear such learned and rational discussion about the Pope's resignation, and about how much I have been getting done. And that led me to wonder what my list of things I am grateful for would look like today.<br />
<br />
Summit Dallas' yoga program.<br />
My washer and dryer<br />
Oxy clean<br />
Down Comforters<br />
Spring in Dallas<br />
Herman Miller Aeron Chairs<br />
Knowing where the upholstery warehouses are in the Metroplex<br />
My chiropractor<br />
My massage therapist<br />
Invisible Tape<br />
NPR<br />
KERA<br />
Ricos Elotes<br />
Dachshunds<br />
Whole Foods<br />
Central Market<br />
Home Depot<br />
Vegetable Gardens<br />
Fresh Fruit<br />
Cheese<br />
Cell Phones<br />
Cashmere<br />
Camping<br />
Hashing<br />
The woods<br />
Mt Bikes<br />
used cars<br />
Rack and pinion steering<br />
reading<br />
books<br />
magazines<br />
Toe Nail clippers for dogs<br />
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails<br />
grass seed<br />
hot tubs<br />
Merrell cloggs<br />
work out pants<br />
Animal rescue organizations<br />
my vet<br />
the ability to rent motorhomes, sail boats, ATVs and snow mobiles.<br />
Skiing<br />
Airplanes<br />
Water<br />
volunteers<br />
people who belong<br />
people who act<br />
people who donate<br />
people who help<br />
A hot shower<br />
A cool breeze<br />
Love <br />
<br />
<br />Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-23160971442840016972013-02-15T09:19:00.000-08:002013-02-15T09:19:21.423-08:00Good riddenceThe phrase "it couldn't have happened to a nicer couple" is supposed to be a compliment. But... with our fondness for being clever and the desire never to be hateful face-to-face, we've twisted that saying to mean, "They got what they deserved." And we don't mean it nicely.<br />
Such is the reaction I have gotten over and over following the resignation of two powerful people this week. People who ruined lives and made other lives much harder than they needed to be. People who ran rough-shod over dreams, shot down creativity, degraded and belittled without thought. People who did it all in the name of profit and .... the revenues kept falling.<br />
Well, I wish them well in their retirement.<br />
It couldn't have happened to a nicer group of people.<br />
<br />Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-79318341427230059562013-02-01T08:08:00.000-08:002013-02-01T08:08:52.090-08:00What you can't see CAN hurt you.There is a biological use for the blind spot. That place in our consciousness that we simply cannot see. That pattern we don't detect. That thing we simply cannot change. That behavior we know is killing us and cannot stop engaging in.<br />
The blind spot keeps our mental faculties from overloading. It keeps us from ending up like the computer on "War Games," so overwhelmed by the inability to win at tic-tac-toe that it simply melts down.<br />
What I wish for each of you is a practical, positive and resourceful method of overriding that blind spot every once in a while. Of actually noticing a destructive pattern. Of finally changing a useless behavior. Of learning to make choices that benefit you, benefit society and don't lead to stagnation.<br />
<br />
It's a fine line to walk. Safety vs. Excess. Status Quo and calm vs. excitement (and stress). <br />
<br />
But Einstein wasn't wrong. Doing the same thing over and over and hoping for a different outcome is the definition of insanity.<br />
<br />
So let's figure out where our blind spots are, peel back the curtains of our denial and stop playing the game. The computer in War Games didn't have a choice. But we do. We can stop playing games.<br />
Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-18663429439094843802013-02-01T07:52:00.000-08:002013-02-01T07:52:12.608-08:00What makes me quake?Jeans.<br />
I can do practically anything. I can streamline practically any process. I can simplify your life and mine.<br />
But I cannot make shopping for or buying jeans any easier, more simple or rational.<br />
I cannot.<br />
Right now people are wearing their jeans in their boots. I would love to be fashionable and do this... but I am top heavy and this look - however fashionable - is not for me.<br />
I also have a stomach that is NOT flat. So jeans that come in at the waist are not for me. <br />
I am a full-fledged adult. I could be a grandmother - biologically - so I really don't want to have to pull up jeans constantly to keep my butt from showing.<br />
However, I am not a grandmother. I rock climb with people half my age. I ride my bike down rocky trails with glee. I should not have to subject myself to Mom jeans. Ever.<br />
And finally, I do not think that jeans with stretch - jeans that cling to my thighs and the dimples on my ass - will make any human who has to look at me happy. <br />
I will certainly not be happy.<br />
So, I have decided that jeans can be expensive. If I have to pay more to be happy in them, I will. Thank goodness I can now afford that.<br />
And yet, by the time I have tried on four or five or fifteen pairs -- By the time I have parked, and fought with overstuffed racks of clothing, and found a dressing room and taken off my clothes, I do not want to spend any money at all. I just want to sit down and sob.<br />
<br />
I can negotiate salaries, speak to CEOs, refinance my home without help, travel around the world, and drive a stick shift.<br />
But I am undone by the idea of buying a pair of jeans.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-62998651795608488782013-01-10T14:01:00.001-08:002013-02-01T07:53:00.307-08:00When your product doesn't want to be bought. Bad news. Candidates turn down offers, but it's still difficult and makes me want to go do something else for the rest of the day.<br />
If I sold anything else, anything, it would not have the ability to say no.<br />
Recruiting is the hardest sales job I could possibly have chosen.<br />
And mostly I love it. But it is still a bummer when they say no.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-17971328024899266502013-01-08T11:34:00.001-08:002013-01-08T11:39:39.100-08:00The smell of a decaying society is....1. Really didn't realize I don't like the taste of Allspice very much. Jerk pork. Not my favorite.<br />
2. Dogs are really spoiled. They don't want to potty outside because it's raining. <br />
3. Nothing is as crazy-making for a recruiter as a client who decides on a candidate and wants to bring him back one last time, just to have the candidate say that he has another offer and needs to decide in the next few hours.<br />
4. I get down on myself a lot because some days I don't take a shower until noon or wash my hair. A lot of my time is spent in yoga clothes. I wear comfortable shoes. I have this secret fear that I am letting myself go too far. That I will be judged - harshly. That I'm somehow less worthy and less respectable. And, in some ways I am. <br />
But last night, a woman in front of me at a store bent down to pick something up and the stench of feces nearly overcame me. I was not that close to her. She was not that old, but she did walk with a cane. She was enormously overweight. She had car keys in her hand. Her hair was covered with a baseball cap.<br />
Now I know there are extenuating circumstances. It could have been a massive accident that had just happened. However there was no wet stain on her backside. <br />
So how is it possible that she thought it OK to go out without wiping herself properly or taking a bath?<br />
How has our society gotten to the point where it's OK to be at Target in such a condition buying random groceries?<br />
Am I the only one disgusted by this lack of self respect? Respect for others? <br />
5. I forgot my favorite sweater at Bean's.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-83718141249842360292013-01-07T14:31:00.001-08:002013-01-07T14:31:54.348-08:00This guy wrote a book. It's called Fat Chance.<br />
He says that sugar is killing us. He made some very salient points.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Lustig">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Lustig</a><br />
<br />
And so I was busy feeling smug about my healthy choices - since I don't have a sweet tooth - and I realized that I'm not quite as sugar free as I'd have thought.<br />
1. I have sugar in my coffee and tea.<br />
2. I eat granola (thought it is homemade and gluten free)<br />
3. Peanut butter is loaded with sugar.<br />
4. My salad dressings contain sugar<br />
5. My spice rubs contain sugar<br />
6. Restaurant food contains sugar<br />
and I add sugar to yogurt.<br />
<br />
However, I add sugar to yogurt in the form of honey.<br />
And of this list, the only one I buy commercially is Peanut Butter.<br />
So aside from my caffeine habit, the worst offender in my diet is ... restaurant food.<br />
<br />
If only I could convince myself that some horrible, unnamed, devestating thing will not happen to me if I just stop going out to eat all the time.<br />
<br />
Anyone else read the book or hear this guy speak recently? Thoughts?Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-31182680521035779572013-01-04T13:30:00.000-08:002013-09-02T08:17:32.931-07:00Warning - feminist ranting: wherein I go all controversial and rail again chastitySo I was listening to a show I really like - Tell Me More - that now airs at 8 p.m. on KERA 90.1. I like it because it's intelligent and easy to follow, doesn't insult me by assaulting my auditory senses, and because it's put together from an African American perspective, which is sometimes hard for me to hear but always enlightening.<br />
There were a group of women being interviewed on the Wednesday show and they were all living chaste lives. Yes.<br />
So I wondered, how is this news-worthy? Why would any society want to discuss this? Is this some sort of trend? <br />
Apparently, they all blog/write about this choice they've made. So now I'm going to blog about it too. I'm going to make a few assumptions along the way, since I kind of have to - not knowing them personally. My first assumption is that they are all attention seekers with self-esteem issues. <br />
But wait. That might not be fair. I should say that half the women in this group were virgins (saving themselves for marriage, don't you know) and the other half were women who had simply outgrown their mis-spent youths.<br />
The virgins were also divided, between the religiously motivated and the martyrs. <br />
The most plausible of these women's positions, was that of a former Hip Hop Music executive who said she was tired of just being a piece of meat. She wanted to get to know people. She wanted to be considered for things other than her sexuality. And while that might seem reasonable, sexuality and objectification are not the same thing. All sex is not a one-way street wherein the male of the species tries to conquer the unwilling female. All sex outside of marriage is not devoid of romance. Nor is it easy. Chastity in this instance also violates another of my principles, that true grace and strength lie in flexibly adapting to the given situation without compromising oneself. As such, hard and fast rules are for the weak and small-minded.<br />
Virginity is another problem altogether. It's not just that it's a horrible state to be in for a biologically healthy adult woman, but it's not about sexuality either. I know of women who will have oral and anal sex for years but claim their virginity is intact. No people, virginity is about power. It's about control and possession and demeaning women by assuming that it's the only thing that makes them valuable. Talk about being turned into a one-dimensional object.<br />
Many more-intelligent and well-spoken people have made this point. But I have to say, women are stronger, safer, more valued and more powerful when they claim and control their own sexuality. <br />
Now, a long time ago I heard a scholar talk about the historical accuracy of the "virgin birth" in the bible. It was his contention that women of that era were not married until they had proven by conceiving a child that they were not barren. A man couldn't afford a barren wife.<br />
So, Mary wasn't necessarily a virgin at all, she was simply unmarried. Still, there are religions where virginity until marriage is the practice and as such, if those are your religious views, you have the right to them. However religion, I've heard said, is like a penis. I'm glad you like yours, please don't cram it down my throat unless I ask.<br />
Above, some not necessarily well-connected thoughts on the subject. Suffice it to say, I think that these women are misguided and they are weak. But more importantly, I think they do women everywhere a disservice. Slavery is not good for slaves. I, for one, am not willing to go back to the dark ages. I am not willing to put artificial limits on being human. And I am not willing to give anyone voice who would or does advocate for something so hurtful to self and to sex and to society.<br />
<br />
The fact that these women were African American is a whole 'nother level of ironic I can't even go into todayAntje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-8762350392167010352013-01-02T15:33:00.002-08:002013-01-02T15:36:09.484-08:00Today, I had thought to write about codependency and surviving a relationship with an addict.<br />
But it turns out I need to work out some serious selfishness first. So, a list of gratitude.<br />
<br />
Grateful that my hairdresser is funny and smart and really good. Not to mention he seems to really like seeing me. And his salon is fun. He puts me in a good mood. Thanks Drew Kime.<br />
Grateful that the refrigerator is not making that horrid noise any more.<br />
Grateful for Bose Wave Radio.<br />
Grateful for Bluetooth. <br />
Grateful for Smart Phones.<br />
Grateful for inexpensive Spay/Neuter programs that allow us (League of Animal Protectors) to continue to rescue and alter animals so that they will not reproduce and make the overpopulation problem worse.<br />
Grateful that all the dogs are healthy.<br />
Grateful that 80 plus friends were able to make it to the annual New Year's Day Formal event yesterday.<br />
Grateful for boutique Olive Oil and the good friend who gave me some for Christmas.<br />
Still grateful for Udi's Gluten Free Bread.<br />
Grateful for quiet nights and board games.<br />
Grateful that no one I know was hurt in a drunk driving accident in 2012.<br />
Grateful for Groupon coupons for King Spa.<br />
Grateful for my new slate floor. <br />
Grateful for some really good climbing the last two times I went.<br />
Grateful for colored pens. And New Year's Solutions.<br />
Grateful for heated leather seats.<br />
Grateful Cook's Illustrated Magazine.<br />
Grateful for cream of Tomato Basil Soup<br />
Grateful for Grilled Cheese.<br />
Grateful for Christmas lights and that I got to see them in my neighborhood for the last month.<br />
Grateful for vacuums. Oh, you have no idea how grateful I am for vacuums.<br />
Grateful for REI.<br />
Grateful for a warming trend this weekend.<br />
Grateful for the chance to ride my mountain bike.<br />
Grateful for friends who help me with errands.<br />
Grateful for good Scotch.<br />
Grateful for emails from my fairy god child.<br />
Grateful for old friends from college who give me perspective.<br />
Grateful for friends who trust me enough that I can tell them the truth.<br />
Grateful for Goodwill.<br />
Grateful for pumpkin pie filling.<br />
Grateful for NPR.<br />
Grateful for Charcoal, and smokers and smoked meat. YUM.<br />
Grateful for Broadway Show Tunes.<br />
Grateful for blogger.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-35162721316561566842012-12-31T12:03:00.000-08:002013-09-02T08:20:55.648-07:00Motivation.<br />
I think there are too many things on my mind. <br />
As in, I think there are too many things that need to be done and not enough of me to do them in any measurable time. So I'm doing none of them. <br />
I am resting.<br />
First, I have to acknowledge that my stomach hurts yet again. Because I overate. Because I have been over eating. Because it was Christmas. And because now it is New Years.<br />
When I hurt, I can still accomplish a lot of tiny little things, but anything long term is beyond me. <br />
So, these things I am talking about, these things seem big to me. Not huge. Not philosophically challenging even. Not something anyone will write home about (well, except maybe me, but that's a discussion about my relationship with my folks).<br />
Anyway, the whole point of this blog post is to consider the act of "New Year's Resolutions." On the radio, on Facebook, on TV, at New Year's Eve parties everywhere, this is the topic of the night.<br />
Some years I have come up with some New Year's Solutions. I liked that play on words.<br />
My solutions were things like: <br />
-- Keep camping equipment in the car at all times so I can camp whenever I want.<br />
-- Use my naglene bottles to keep tap water in the fridge and thereby eliminate all purchases of bottled water.<br />
-- Give away a pair of shoes for each new pair you buy thereby always keeping the closet under control.<br />
-- Only have brown and black shoes and wear scarves the way people change the color of throw pillows to change up the feeling/decor of a room.<br />
Another thing is that I'm not that good at setting those lofty goals for myself.<br />
So.<br />
I do not wish to finally lose weight. I have already been losing weight. And putting on weight. My whole life. It will continue<br />
I do not wish to "get in shape." I am in shape... I am not as strong as I have been, but I am technically able to climb and ride. I bet I can ski too. By next 12.31 I might be stronger or I might be weaker, but my body will still require attention. That too will never change.<br />
I have always always always eventually wanted to go back to school. And I will. And then I'll be done again for a while.<br />
I have always wanted to write. And I do. And then for months I don't have much to say. Sometimes I get published. <br />
I have always wanted to travel. There is no end to the list of places I want to go. And if I ever got to all of them, I'd just want to go back. <br />
I have always wanted to lead. And so the universe has sometimes let me. And sometimes it's my job to follow. And sometimes I am just in the way.<br />
None of those desires will change on 1.1.13<br />
<br />
(an aside, The good news here - I really do know myself).<br />
<br />
My fear is that if I make a list of things I need to accomplish, it will not be inspired. It will not be brilliant. It will be a list of chores that I need to do. <br />
And if you follow this blog, you know, that list stays pretty static all the time.<br />
Work on the yard. Paint the house. Redo the floors. Paint the walls. Insulate. Buy and install new windows. Weed. Clean. Clean. Clean and, well, Clean. Sometimes the list includes things like, eat vegetables. Eat fruit. Take vitamins. Drink Tea. Again, isn't this what we all need to do every day, all the time, ALL OF US.<br />
<br />
Perhaps tomorrow I will have some solutions for things that have been plaguing me recently and perhaps I will publish them.<br />
Perhaps I will decide that I want to post a lofty goal or two. Write that book I thought of this morning. Or the other one I've been working on for six weeks or so.<br />
Perhaps I will just publish another to-do list. Perhaps not.<br />
<br />
Today, I am just glad that pork is roasting. Soup is stewing. Brisket is ready to smoke. Chicken is thawed and will bake. I have not sewed my costume, learned how to take black and white pictures with my new camera, taught Kelly to knit, recovered the headboard, organized the damn bookshelf, cleaned out the refrigerator and freezer, taken all my photos out of their albums for scanning, baked cookies, exercised, solved the world's problems or even called John Henning about making me a custom threshold.<br />
<br />
I think all this resting requires a cup of tea. Who's with me?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-19583965071325929842012-12-28T13:51:00.001-08:002012-12-28T13:51:59.547-08:00Eggs. And WyomingEggs. I went out for lunch, shopped for jeans, had my toenails painted neon buttercup, and forgot to buy Eggs.<br />
***<br />
Now that I have received a fantastic camera for Christmas, I have this desire to upgrade a bunch of other electronics: Ipod, Airport, Smartphone. This is only interesting because prior to Christmas, I had absolutely no desire for anything new. I forgot I owned two Ipods, an airport express and that my phone's keyboard doesn't work right any more.<br />
***<br />
There's nothing wrong with my health and yet I never feel good. There's nothing wrong with my relationship, and yet I always wonder if I'm caring for it diligently enough. I know that I rode, and hiked and climbed consistently last year, but I am not exercising enough. I make plenty of money, but there's an unending list of things that need to be paid for.<br />
In the big picture, I am doing really well. But... if you asked me right now "how are you?," I would have a litany of complaints. <br />
This is why, in general, in America, when asked if we're happy - we are consistently not. Yet we live in the most free, richest, most technologically advanced, prettiest, most advanced country we can imagine.<br />
Someone reminded me the other day - by posting Louis CK on my Facebook page - that we have everything we've ever dreamt possible. Our life expectancy is increasing, our wealth is increasing, our access to information and each other keeps on growing. I do wonder why that's not good enough?<br />
***<br />
Camping tonight. Low of 25 expected. I'll be snuggled in my tent, so I'm looking forward to it. But tomorrow morning could be miserable - since it's not supposted to get above freezing until mid-day. <br />
***<br />
Bought a groupon to have my pictures scanned. Turns out that the groupon only covers 4x6 pictures, and I have an awful lot of 3x5's. I have to pay $15 extra for those. It's the kind of thing that irritates me about groupons. And I actually tried to read all the fine print. <br />
***<br />
The stuff I bought that says that it cleans outside windows by being sprayed on and rinsed off. It doesn't work. Any other ideas?<br />
***<br />
My favorite new dish of 2012 was roasted garlic and coffee marinated beef strips served on home-made caesar salad in a parmesan crisp basket.<br />
My second favorite was leek and mushroom gratin.<br />
***<br />
Calling Wyoming now. More tomorrow.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-32637124847559851022012-12-26T12:04:00.001-08:002012-12-26T12:04:19.221-08:00It is December the 26th. <br />
Five days remain in 2012 and there is snow on the ground. <br />
I am looking back over the year and wondering how so much could change, while so much stays the same. <br />
I also wonder why I always always remember my Godmother's dining room. It's as if I am haunting that spot. But that's another exploration for another day.<br />
This last month, we got a new kitchen floor. Actually, we installed a new kitchen floor. It makes me happy that the kitchen now looks less schizophrenic. And that Brandon and I survived the experience.<br />
I spent most of 2012 as stressed as anyone could possibly be in a job. And then on Oct 31st I quit. <br />
Please don't think it was entirely spontaneous. I even sat down with a dear and trusted friend to do the math on quitting without another job the week before. I told Brandon I wanted to quit for several weeks before I did. Still, it was a nearly crazy act, topped only by the sheer insanity of staying in the job one more minute. <br />
It actually took some time and emotional fortitude to make it through the adjustment period back to normal. And I'm really not sure I'm there yet, as a matter of fact.<br />
The old lady next door finally died after two-plus years in a nursing home. Of course, by that time her grand and great-grand children were living in the house. Turns out they weren't paying the mortgage, though. So, it was foreclosed on in spectacular fashion and for the first time I actually witnessed someone's things hauled out and dumped on the lawn.<br />
An investor bought the house and gutted and rebuilt it. Soon, we'll have new neighbors. And yet, it's not that much change either.<br />
Brandon and I adopted a second Dachshund, named her Peanut before we knew we were keeping her, and call her Nuesschen. She is a total brat who completely runs Oscar, Brandon and my Life, so that was a huge change - brought on by a 11-pound ball of cuteness.<br />
I still have Bailey, Tyler and Jenna. Although Jenna almost died in the spring when she got in a fight (again) and had her throat torn out. Tyler is very slow these days, but for the miracle of baby aspirin, I bet he would hardly walk. Still, this morning he went out in the snow with some spring in his step. That was a joy to see.<br />
Eric got a job delivering flowers after 8.5 months of unemployment. It was a harried time. Some days, though, I don't even remember what it was like having him around here every day.<br />
We vacationed in Steamboat Springs, Denver, Taos and Santa Fe, New Orleans, and Portland.<br />
Good friends moved away. Got married. I lost some weight. Flew to California to take care of Dad after he spent two weeks in ICU.<br />
This is a ridiculous blog post. I cannot sum up a year into one of those obnoxious Christmas letters. I am no longer capable. <br />
The only thing of major significance is that I quit my job. The way I quit. How freaking long it took me. And how bad it was before I left. And I can't even share the juicy details.<br />
I love Peanut. And Brandon. And all my friends.<br />
I saved a lot of dogs.<br />
The house needs a lot of work.<br />
There. That's it. 2012 is nearly over. If I had not changed the trajectory of my career, it would have been a year like any other.<br />
Now I am disappointed in myself. Maybe tomorrow I can do something of actual value. Or use.<br />
<br />
<br />
Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-65493926249720599152012-02-06T09:27:00.000-08:002012-02-06T09:39:55.306-08:00ObsessiveHaving been too busy lately to write (never a good sign for a scribe like me), this blog has seemed very empty. No... it has been very empty.<br /><br />I really need to do something for myself, so this weekend I insisted on play both Saturday (@the Silos) and Sunday (@OCNP). I did not drink with the group. I did not volunteer. I also did not get the satisfaction out of the weekend that I thought I would get.<br /><br />One of the things I did not do, was fix anything in my house. We did get the raised beds build, though there was not enough time to put in dirt... nor had I ordered it yet. So, that will wait. And, btw, the weeding of the garden before the raised beds went down caused real and lasting pain... it's the worst possible activity for me... bar none.<br /><br />Spring is here and there's a lot more to be done. So, forthwith, a list.<br /><br />1. Split/stack the rest of the wood.<br />2. lay down more sod in the back yard.<br />3. Rebuild gate<br />4. Spread out the white rocks and prune fruit trees.<br />5. Get rid of mini fence.<br />6. finish poisoning the rocks.<br />7. power wash deck.<br />8. seal deck<br />9. power wash front porch and scrape.<br />10. Paint concrete<br />11. tear out tile in kitchen.<br />12. Weed front beds<br />13. fix bubble lights (on front porch).<br /><br />Mop<br />disinfect<br />sanitize<br />clean out fish tank<br />new vanity in bathroom<br />fix window sills with wood putty<br />fix bottoms of the doors -wood putty<br />paint windows and trims<br />paint all walls.<br />Hang new curtains<br /><br /><br />Dog meds (comfortis and heartguard)<br />buy Ivermectin<br />buy puppy shots<br /><br />so... again this has devolved into a list of things I need to get done.<br /><br />Sigh.... This was not what I intended. But it's done, so here you go.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574472.post-91788276649847829752011-12-20T15:05:00.000-08:002011-12-20T15:16:07.139-08:00short list of things to be grateful for.chedder cheese<br />pepperoni<br />gluten free crackers<br />peanut butter<br />apples<br />nalgene bottles<br />house plants/ceramic planters<br />Oscar the Dog<br />dog beds<br />dog coats<br />Kindle<br />unexpected gifts<br />Buddha statues<br />colored pens<br />unexpected Christmas cards<br />animal rescue groups<br />Brightly colored fall leaves<br />Cheap flights<br />warm air from the heater<br />electric lights<br />NPR<br />HOT Water<br />Hot Showers<br />clean dishes<br />Tuna sandwiches<br />recipes from friends<br />email<br />facebook<br />chat<br />texting<br />phone calls<br />smart phones<br />digital cameras<br />sterling silver<br />tarnex<br />families<br />friends<br />friends as close as family<br />pumpkin pie milk shakes<br />down comforters<br />new pillows<br />clean sheets<br />comfy beds<br />warm fur boots<br />inexpensive meds for dogs<br />garbage service<br />recycling<br />maps/globes<br />my vet<br />tacos<br />real Mexican food<br />Aqua Pina<br />Dog Food from RPAL<br />retractable leashes<br />dry red wine<br />crisp champagne<br />robert burns<br />heated seats<br />coffee<br />tea<br />hot cocoa<br />blogs, vlogs<br />youtube<br />moisturizer<br />lactose free milk<br />winter lawns<br />and so many, many more things.Antje Spethmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14271856751666786279noreply@blogger.com1