special moments

watching old (and one new) movie(s) with my best friend...
forgetting (for a while) the load of work that awaits...
fantastic snowfall that is unexpected and wondrous...
warm tea on the tongue...

orange bands

Today in the midst of a chaotic moment and deep in frustration I was reminded of the possibility of hope. It sounds a bit dramatic, but this is a summer of deep emotions for me. Feeling helpless against the tide of events is commonplace and I struggle to find joy in the day-to-day. A simple need for 7 rubber bands was met today in an unusual way -- there were exactly 7 orange bands of the right size amidst a collection of too big and too small and too thin and too thick... Thanks for the moment...

anxiety and hope

Tomorrow I return to work after a short break. Although feeling somewhat refreshed, I am not looking forward to it wholeheartedly. The other day walking to a parking lot surrounded by woods, I witnessed a deer and two fauns crossing the road. My heart was filled for a moment with brightness. I must allow myself to experience such feeling more often... daily... hourly... minute-by-minute. I am thankful for the wonders around me and I need to appreciate more. I take a step in the right direction by acknowledging this.

loss of a wise one

This tree has been a part of my backyard environment since I moved to my current home three years ago. It is very strange now that our neighbors have removed it... Just a few days ago we learned that it was to be taken down. The yard has a different feel - more sunlight, but definitely a loss.

bleary eyed

I should be rested after the weekend, but I return to work feeling quite weary. A major project has drained me of much enthusiasm and I return to this page as a means of contacting my creative side. I believe that a piece of fiction will begin to unfold at this site in the coming weeks. I hope that I can honor that for myself.

imagine

As I return to work this week after a break, I must remember the importance of imagination. That is really what it is about... I hope to inspire and ignite the mind. My wife and I saw this wonderful sculpture in Kirkland on Saturday and I hope to keep it in mind for the rest of the year. On the previous mention of synchronicity, I did read a modest mention of a red ball in an article in Wired magazine over the weekend. I will keep my eyes open.

red rubber ball

After rediscovering the song Red Rubber Ball by The Cyrkle on iTunes, I have been hearing it on and off in my head for several days... Watching The Prestige (on Thursday?) I noticed the role that a small red ball plays in the theatrics of the transported man trick... I am keeping an eye open for more synchronicities.

spring is...

this too...

...shall pass... Going through a very rough couple of days with work. Life completely off balance and I fear I am falling. This candle - a gift - is to remind me that this is but a moment and will transform into something better...

a magnificent shimmering light

This weekend invited me to step back from my stress and remember to try to live in the moment. It is so hard for me to do. Walking through a parking lot in the light rain on Saturday afternoon I spotted the beautiful thin-film pattern. The way light manifests itself is truly wonderous.

Oh the shark bites!

Yesterday I was fascinated that this toy from my wife’s old office could bring such joy to a group ranging in age from sixteen to eighteen years old. For a magical 40 minutes one could hear exclamations of surprise and fear as these young adults took turns pressing down a tooth. It was a wonderful time.

flow within to create movement

battery, magnet, wire... yields motion

Fearful

A surge of adrenaline as I notice a blind spot… Closing one eye and then the other to see if it is really there… Looking around the room at walls, books, my laptop or TV screen, any text to see if it is really there… If the spot is growing it will soon no longer stay hidden and I must face the inevitable fact that I am experiencing stage 1 of “my” type of migraine.

Hope of Spring

Today has been wet and rainy... After the sun on Thursday and Friday we have returned to the normal experience of Winter in the Pacific Northwest. However, the promise of Spring is all around in the form of sprouting bulbs and small buds on the trees. Amid such budding branches I spotted this nest outside of my school. May it provide a warm and safe home for a family of birds this Spring...

Before the Darkness

Afternoon light appeals most to me. Looking out of the front window this afternoon I saw the warm rays of the setting sun as they illuminated a huge cloud in the distance. Soon afterward darkness settled over the landscape. I hope for a sunny day tomorrow.

Wonder in the Dark and Cold

Upon opening the freezer door I am sometimes rewarded by the gift of an ice spike or two in my ice cube tray. It never seems to be more than two, and I always thought that it might have something to do with a slight vibration in the fridge. I investigated online and found that the occurrence of the spikes has more to do with the quality of the water and the ambient temperature than anything else. I hope that I continue to find the wonder and beauty in such discoveries.

Remembering

Saturday was a beautifully sunny day – a jewel amidst many days of clouds and rain. Lizzy and I decided to take advantage of the gift of sun to head down to an Old Town beach and search for sea glass. Breathing in the fresh air and soaking up the sun reminded me of the importance to connect to nature and to release the stress which has been building in my life. As the water crashed into the ruins of an old factory, I carefully walked along a narrow path uncovered by the low tide. I discovered no physical treasures – just the realization that I must walk on the beach and in the woods often.

Try, try again

Last time I ventured into these waters was about 9 months ago after my Dad’s visit. Now I am writing again about the visit of a parent – this time my Mom. I am blessed to have both parents alive and (relatively) healthy. It has been wonderful to see each of them in turn. I was to see them at their home in Colorado during the Winter holidays, but the weather interfered. Mom’s visit inspired a trip to our local Museum of Glass – a wonderful place with some fantastic art. I was impressed by my Mother’s knowledge of glassworks due to her work in sales for a company that specializes in ceramic crucibles for use in the glass and mining industries. It was great to see her and I hope to see both Mom and Dad again soon!