Plotting My Escape

Maybe you don't like your job, maybe you didn't get enough sleep, well nobody likes their job, nobody got enough sleep. Maybe you just had the worst day of your life, but you know, there's no escape, there's no excuse, so just suck up and be nice. - Ani DiFranco


I've been thinking, almost constantly, about changing my life. Again. Trying something different to find my place in the world. And I need the change. I do. Because I'm not nice anymore. And I don't care if I am either. Which is a whole different level of scratchiness in my life. And I agree with Ani, I believe I should be nice to others and I try but when a constant simmer is under the surface, I'm less able to remain patient, kind and understanding. I don't like who I become or how I behave. I remember it from being in Chicago, it took me about 3 months of living there before I didn't react to everything with anger.


I'm in Gulfport, Mississippi* to babysit my nephew for a couple of days while my sister and brother in law play in the state USTA tennis league championships in Jackson. (Yes, I realize how that sounds but it's fun for me to spend time with William and they always need a couple days off.) As I drove down here, I realized I had everything in my car I needed to start my journey... car, computer, camera, clothes and my dog. Too bad I left behind a lot of obligations. This time, when I leave, I have a lot more to do than just quit my job and pack up my stuff.

So I'll go back instead of heading another direction like I was dreaming to do, sell my stuff, make arrangements, save some money, and plan my escape. Even though I call it my 'escape' - I'm not running from anything. I'm looking for a way to live my life which makes me happy and allows me to cross some places off my list. It may not be everyone's way of living or everyone's idea of a life but it appeals to me and I think it will give me a greater level of satisfaction than my current work hard, please everyone but myself situation.

We'll see. One step at a time.


*I always spell out Mississippi, mainly cause I like to sing, "crooked letter, crooked letter, i, humpback, humpback, i" outloud to myself.

Sharing Ava's Story

"God allows us to experience the low points of life in order to teach us lessons we could not learn in any other way. The way we learn those lessons is not to deny the feelings but to find the meanings underlying them." - Stanley Lindquist

Everyone who reads my blog knows how much I love my nephew, William. I have been overwhelmed and surprised at how easy and complete these feelings are.

I, along with the rest of my family, delight at his ever achievement and exploration. We laugh at his language and enjoy playing with him. He is in love with trains, bulldozers, planes, and trucks. He stops playing when outside and a big truck drives by. If you pull into the driveway, he gets in the car with you and plays with the steering wheel.

So when I read stories like this and I think of how easily it could be him or one of my friends' children and how lucky we've been so far and how lucky we'll be if none of them have to face a child's death. It makes me think. And say a word of thanks.

Spread the word of this story (if you can't read it, click here) and let others learn from her life.

Amazing

"Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though t'were his own." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

My nephew is here again. He's a handful. Nonstop and full of giggles. I take such delight, such joy and feel so much love around him. I was amazed at how much I loved him before he was born, how much I enjoy him and how much more I love him now.*

He's starting to talk and each day we've tried to teach him a new word: "Tree", "Door", "Keys", etc. I'm working on bulldozer right now... he loves trucks, cars, and airplanes so one of his new toys is a bulldozer so I'm trying to teach him to say it as well, it comes out sounding, "ull -oze". We'll keep at it.

He's leaving tomorrow which is no fun but I'll see him in about 6 weeks - it's just enough to note the changes which happen in between the visits. This was the first visit that he recognized me... when he saw me, he ran to me and hugged me. It's a great feeling to have that unconditional and simple love directed at you.

*However, this does NOT mean I won't my own... if anything, it's confirmed that I'm not cut out to be a mom.

60 Years Young

"Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." - Jack Benny

Today is my Dad's 60th Birthday and I spent several hours yesterday getting together photographs from his life for a photo montage to show at the store for today. We're doing a celebration here with cake, balloons, and specials. Our customers are loving it. It's like he's their mascot, they look at the pictures and say they remember when. Everyone loves a little nostalgia.

I poured over pictures and remembered stories I'd heard and ones I experienced. And I became really thankful. For the life my father has lived, for his parents (especially his mother) who pushed him to be successful, for his love of life, his good humor, his sense of generosity and his respect for others.

I laughed at his silliness, his gestures, clothing choices, and his poses. I remembered special moments and the fun we always seem to have as a family, with my dad always right in the middle.

I think of all that he's taught me. All he's encouraged to be. The example he's set for me and my sisters. Of not only how to love but how we should be loved. How to be generous and loving and understanding and accepting of others.

And for accepting me for who I am and loving me for it. For seeing my potential and respecting the differences between myself and my sisters. For loving us all equally and differently at the same time. For finding that balance and maintaining it.

I love my dad (and my mom) for their generosity. Their inclusiveness. Their desire to make our lives complete, challenging, and exciting. My parents have a tremendous amount of energy and are always on the go. When they work, they work hard. When they play, they play hard. And when they relax, they relax all the way.

My dad has been many things to me: a teacher, a friend, a business partner, a cheerleader, a supporter, a mentor, and most of all, a father. One who lead by example and expected the best from me at all times, in all things.

So today, as we should, we're celebrating my dad and all that he is and has done. He's all I've said and more. To many people. Generous and Caring. Fun and Easy-Going. Loving and Gentle.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Cousin Barry

"The Family - that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our most inner hearts, ever quite wish to." - Dodie Smith

A couple of weeks ago, we traveled south to Jacksonville Beach, Florida for a clan gathering like no other. My cousin, Barry was getting married and we were all invited.

I took several pictures of the wedding and I was fascinated with the hotel location of the wedding. Fitting to that coast, it was spanish influenced and the wedding was held in the

courtyard overlooking the ocean. Add in a rooftop bar and you had the best of both worlds.

Not the best picture but I'm still learning... and I don't have a nighttime lens... But it kind of adds to the old world feel, right? I know, I know... I'm working on it. How about this one?

And of course, I took pictures of William during the ceremony. He sat still for about 2.5 seconds before he was in the flower bed with the fans... Not bad for 18 months old. He wasn't making any loud noises so we left him alone.

This little girl, on the other hand, was completely enthralled by the whole ceremony. And I'm sure there will be hours upon hours of playing 'wedding' and dressing up as a bride. I'm sure to someone her age, a bride is about as close to a real live princess as you get... and a little less scary than the characters at theme parks.

And then of course, here's the reason I go to weddings at all... Champagne...

Welcome to the World Baby Girl!!!

Or in my parents' case, the 21st Century...

It was a pleasant surprise last Friday to come home to find that my parents had redone their home phone contract to include Caller ID AND Call Waiting!!!

People, this is HUGE!!!

My Mother HATES call waiting - if you put her on hold, she will hang up on you. Or at least, she hangs up on her children. Sometimes she's a little more patient with others so she might let you get away with it once or twice before she starts hanging up on you.

But I think the real kicker is going to be watching her operate the phone when she has someone break in on the call - I kind of freaked out when it happened to me the other night. I couldn't remember which button to push ("Flash") so I hit a bunch of different ones until it came to me (please, people, my parents just got this service, it's not like it was avaliable to me growing up and I've only had a cell phone for about 8 years at this point!!!).

As for Caller ID, the whole point is to be able to see who is calling in order to decide whether or not you want to answer the phone - well, I can see there is going to be a learning curve on this one. I still hadn't convince my mom to use her voice mail in this way so I doubt she'll adjust quickly to waiting until the 2nd or 3rd ring to see who is calling.

Really, I guess the real question is how long has it been since they redid their phone contract for it now to be a part of the basic package AND why do they even still have a home phone?!?! (Those are questions for another day and another time).

Babies, Baptisms, and Birthdays

We got back last night after a whirl-wind trip to southern Mississippi to see my sister and nephew baptised. It was a small, intimate ceremony with just our family, my grandparents and Will's mom in the chapel at their new church. But it was a fun excuse to see Leah, Will and William. Plus they had moved into their new house last Friday so we were able to check that out as well. Here are some pictures of the family and festivities.




























































These last two are him somewhat walking... he can do it, he's just at that stage where he's figured out that he's faster on his knees, crawling. So he always has this moment of hesitation, where he's deciding which to do... it's kind of funny, especially when he drops down and takes off. The look of satisfaction on his face is priceless.












It was also Joel's birthday... He turned 26 so we had cake (yes!) and sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He and Lauren have known each other for 6 years so he's an unofficial member of our family.

And yes, I do have the cutest nephew ever... Don't believe me? Check out this last picture - Lauren and Joel are tag teaming him, trying to button his britches... He's laughing and wiggling, it was funny to watch. So I grabbed my camera to get a picture of them and he sees me and starts hamming it up. Laughing and posing for the camera. He's a mess.

Pictorial Capacity

I lack the creative eye that I would love to have... My secret fantasy job is a traveling photographer who never settles and who captures THE shot. But I have no, none, nada talent as an 'artist'. I do, however, have a dream and a digital camera. Therefore, you must suffer my art.

Here are some pictures I took at Amelia Island as a storm was rolling in...

So, what's your dream?

Fathers

" A true and well-regulated affection should be born and increase with the knowledge children give us of themselves; and then, if they are worthy of it, the natural propensity going along with reason, we should cherish them with a truly paternal love; and we should likewise pass judgment on them if they are otherwise, always submitting to reason, notwithstanding the force of nature. It is very often the reverse; and most commonly we feel more excited over the stamping, the games, and the infantile tricks of our children than we do later over their grown up actions, as if we had loved them for our pastime, like monkeys, not like men. And some supply toys very liberally for their childhood, who tighten up at the slightest expenditure they need when they are of age. Indeed it seems that the jealousy we feel at seeing them appear in the world and enjoy it when we are about to leave it makes us more stingy and tight with them; it vexes us that they are treading on our heels, as if to solicit us to leave. And if we had that to fear, then since in the nature of things they cannot in truth either be or live except at the expense of our being and our life, we should not have meddled with being fathers." -Montaigne*

*Yes, I realize I'm a day late. What else is new? But it's hard to convince myself to come to the office over the weekend - even for something non-work related. This place sucks me in sometimes, it's dangerous.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

My favorite stop along the cruise was San Juan, Puerto Rico... it is definitely a place I'm going to plan a return visit.


While in San Juan, we toured their Spanish Fort which held the island for over 600 years from foreign invasion until the early 1900s when the United States took control of the providence. The fort was really cool - 18 foot thick walls and built upon a cliff. We only had about 45 minutes to explore when it was a building that could take up a whole day so it left me wanting more.

That's my brother-in-law, Will, jumping in my picture...

After touring the fort and the Bacardi rum factory, we had the best meal of the trip. A little, local seafood resturant. Seared tuna sandwiches, fresh calamari, snapper ceviche and watermelon sangria... my stomach is getting happy just thinking about it. We all agreed that it was one of the better parts of the trip.

Bon Voyage!!!

After seven days of blissful weather and family togetherness, I'm back from celebrating my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary in the Carribbean. I took over 200 pictures on this vacation so be prepared. I'm making a photo book from Snapfish for my grandparents as a present so I was really into documenting the vacation. It was fun and I got a lot of great pictures. So it was worth being a little annoying to everyone else.








But first the obligatory cute picture of my nephew... he discovered his tongue this week and was constantly sticking it out and making faces with it much to our delight.







And now, my grandparents. We suprised them with a cake and a song from the crew one night at dinner. Aren't they cute? So fun. And the rest of the dining room joined in the celebration. There was a lot of love going around the boat, 3 different couples were married while on board and we witnessed an engagement one night. Instead of the "Triumph", it should have been called the "Love Boat" (cue theme song here).

Our boat made four stops:

1. Moon Cay, Bahamas
2. St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
3. San Juan, Puerto Rico
4. Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos

I'll have a post for each destination and include pictures but please be patient with me. I've decided to uproot my life and move it back to Georgia now so between packing, moving, saying goodbyes, and driving south, I may be a little busy.

Cheers to Wanda

Wanda is my mom... she owns Hallmark stores in the Athens, GA area. We're a card sending family - always have been (even before the stores). I recently sent a birthday card to one of my friends' husbands and he was a little confused/concerned. But my friend explained it to him by saying, "that's Lindsey". I enjoy sending cards and spending the time reading them and picking them out. It's my way of making the world a better place.

I stumbled across this cartoon on the internet. I definitely recognize the commercial aspect of certain holidays... I don't think it's a horrible thing (it's kind of far down on the list of evil) but I can laugh at the mockery of it. Like an attorney who finds lawyer jokes funny. It's self-depricating humor which is always healthy.

So enjoy. It's funny. Well at least, it made me laugh.

Baby Willum!!

My sister sends me pictures of my nephew on a weekly basis. Keeps me up to date and I love it. Here he is at my grandparent's house - Leah and William are at my parent's house in Georgia to get his 3 month pictures made tomorrow. He's a cutie and he looks like he's gotten bigger. He has started smiling and he grins at everyone, even though he's not smiling at this picture. How cute is he in his overalls? I love it.

We've been calling him Baby Willum because our little friend Sara who is almost 3 calls him and every other baby, "BABY WILLUM!"

This is Sara kissing William during Christmas - she was aggressive about making sure he got a big kiss from her!