Thoughts on Winter

Jan24

Over the Christmas week and again this current week, I find myself thinking about a popular joke that has made its way around the internet via emails, Facebook, etc. for many years. You know the one. It is written in diary format by a guy/girl who moves to {insert city known for having very snowy winters} and starts out all excited about the snow, progressively loses that enthusiasm more and more each day, and finally ends up cursing the snow and the plow driver who inevitably comes along and buries the end of the driveway within minutes of them shoveling it out……yet, again! I started seeing that joke floating around when I lived in NC. I’d read it through, nod my head, laugh, and think “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt – glad I’m not there anymore!” And then, despite years of insisting I would never live where I had to deal with months of snow, I decided to move back home – to western NY – right smack dab in the Buffalo snow belt!

I was never a fan of winter. Didn’t care much for winter sports or being outside in the cold and snow. Yes, I occasionally enjoyed ice skating at Bullard Park – night skating was the most fun and the building where they had a heater and served hot chocolate made it easy to spend a few hours skating and hanging out with friends. I’ve also been known to bundle up and go sledding, make a few snow angels, and have a few snowball fights in my day. But, for the most part, I much preferred to stay inside in the winter. My brother, on the other hand, loved the snow and being out in it. I always did think he was a little whacky, but, to each his own, as they say. So, the winters in NC were my cup of tea! Just enough snow to remind me that it was pretty and go away before it got irritating. We usually had a few days of snow each winter, but it would go away once the sun came out. There were a couple of winters (out of the 26 years I lived there) that brought some significant accumulation that lasted several days. I remember the first year we got buried with a huge snow fall. I didn’t have boots, gloves, or a really warm winter coat. I also didn’t have a snow shovel or other appropriate winter time tools. I had to shovel my deck, steps, and a path to the car. So, I got the dirt shovel out of the shed – learned quick that dirt shovels don’t work in snow – it just sticks to them! But, I am a creative sort……I duct taped a dust pan to the handle of a broom and went out with my shoes, bare hands, and a lightweight jacket and roughly – very roughly – cleared a path in the snow. After that, I bought a snow shovel that never got used. Luckily, if there was any hint of a snow flake in the forecast, the whole state shut down and I didn’t have to deal with it!

So, obviously, one of the things I gave a lot of thought and consideration to when deciding whether or not to move back home was having to deal with the winter months. I admit I was worried about it. I made sure the house I bought had an attached garage – I was determined to never have to clean off a car and carry groceries through the snow – that was the one main must have when it came to a house!!! But, that wasn’t all I worried about. I hadn’t driven in significant snow or ice in a lot of years! And I wasn’t sure how my Mustang would handle in the snow. I decided the benefits of moving far outweighed the concerns I had about the winters. So, here I am.

My first winter here was mild – we only had a couple good snow storms and they didn’t last long. For the most part, it was almost exactly like winters in NC, except it was colder…..and those couple of snow storms were more than I would have had to deal with in NC. I was pleasantly surprised and thought of it as a gift to help me ease into it. I bought a snow shovel called a “snow pusher” that made clearing my driveway and patio easy – I’d just walk behind it pushing the snow out of the way – no need to lift and throw the snow, like normal shovels. I got excited when it did snow and enjoyed watching the girls play and experience deep snow for the first time in their lives. I got right out there with them and played snowball catch and chased them around the yard. Since I didn’t work and there weren’t many bad days, it was easy to just stay home if the weather wasn’t good. It was a good first winter.

I knew I wasn’t lucky enough to get another mild winter, though. The pony didn’t do well driving in snow, so I got a second vehicle so I could take the old girl off the road during the winter months. I had my snow pusher and the cold weather clothes I bought the year before. I was ready! I was very happy that we got a white Christmas……but, then it kept on snowing……..and snowing……..and snowing! It snowed so much and the snow was so wet and heavy that my snow pusher was no longer an easy solution to clearing the driveway. I decided to get a snow blower. Once I got used to it, I liked it! So, we’ve had two major bouts of snow. And this one came with days of single digit temperatures and sub-zero wind chill factors!

But, you know what? I’m finding I don’t look at the snow in the same way I did when I lived here before. Then, I had to clean off cars and dig my way out to get to school or work every day. I had to drive no matter how bad the roads were – unless work, school, or the roads were closed. It was a chore to just survive the day-to-day necessities. But, now, I have very little that I HAVE to go out for. I clean the driveway out in case I need to go somewhere and to keep up with it so it doesn’t get too out of hand. I clear the patio off so the girls can easily get out to do the business. Other than that, I can sit and look out at it. I can appreciate the beauty of it. I can have fun with the girls and the snow blower. I don’t have to dread the snow. Sure, I still don’t LIKE it and I really wish it would snow for a day or two and then go away and I wish it would warm up – I don’t like being cold! But, I really don’t get all upset and irritated with it like I used to. Maybe it is because I don’t NEED to go out in it……..maybe I’m getting better at not letting things I can’t do anything about bother me…….who knows. All I know is I just plain don’t feel the same about winter and snow as I used to and that’s a good thing!

I ventured out yesterday and snapped some photos. Here is what January 2013 in Albion, NY looks like:

The girls playing in the snow – before the second wave came through and made it much deeper!

Don’t think I’ll be barbecuing any time soon!

Breakfast on the patio, anyone?

The canal is drained for the winter and the barges that are parked until spring look pretty sad stuck in the ice and snow!

Ducks out on the frozen river at Point Breeze

Lake Ontario at Point Breeze — icy waves!

Another shot of the frozen chunks covering Lake Ontario

The Black North Inn at Point Breeze looks pretty lonely!

Mount Albion Cemetery

And, finally…….this patio was all cleaned off just yesterday – this was taken this morning after the overnight lake effect snow dumped another load of snow on us!

So, there are my thoughts on Winter and snow. I’m finally at a point in my life where I can actually enjoy it…..to a point!

And on to 2013

Dec31

Happy New Year 2013

Well, today is the last day of yet another year that seemed to simply flash before my eyes and is gone! Where does the time go? They say that the older you get, the faster the years fly by. Does that seem fair to you? You finally get to a stage in your life when you can really enjoy it and it starts moving at the speed of light – don’t blink, you’ll miss something important! I barely put a dent in my wish list of stuff to do in 2012 and I’ve run out of time! Oh, well, I had a great year, anyway, and if I missed something really special last year, it will just roll over to my to-do list for 2013! How’s that?

Yes, 2012 was a great year. My first full calendar year back home in Albion – YAY! I reconnected with old friends, ventured out to explore old favorite spots and found some new ones, made some new friends, finished some major renovation projects on my house, got to know some of my amazing neighbors, rejoined the church I attended with my family as a child, and – most importantly – spent a ton of wonderful time with my family! Only down side was Mom being sick – she was very ill all year (still is, but we’re hoping she’s on the road to recovery). We weren’t able to get out together much, but we still spent a lot of time together. What you do together isn’t the important thing…..the important part is that you’re together! I am so happy I’ve been here to be with her and help her as much as I could.

Doesn’t sound like I missed much as the year raced by, does it? I sure was busy all year! I often wonder, where is this “retirement” that I’ve read and heard about? The one where people sit in rocking chairs and get bored? I definitely wouldn’t enjoy that kind of retirement for very long, but short periods of it from time to time would be nice! I had lots of plans to help ward off the boredom I was sure would set in after I got settled. I downloaded a bunch of books onto my Kindle……I did make time to set out on the patio or up in the lovely sitting area in my bedroom dormer to read a few books, but still haven’t finished the last one I started a few months ago. I started a list of places I wanted to go visit near by……I got through several of them, but still have a bunch to shoot for this coming year. I (with Mom’s help) re-taught myself how to knit and crochet so that I could join the Prayer Shawl group at church……..I crocheted one beautiful shawl for the group and started to knit another one, but the holidays have slowed progress on that one down. I promised myself I would write on here more often, too……..I have written more than in the past few years and I also started a new blog devoted to church news, but still haven’t written as much as I would like to. I enjoy all these things and deliberately make or find time to do them as I can, but since they were meant to ward off boredom and boredom never came, I haven’t devoted as much time to them as I would like.

I found a great new veterinarian for the girls – Dr. Mary Neilans! We LOVE her! I also found a dentist I really like in nearby Batavia – Dr. Krough at Genesee Dental – and he got me set up with Invisalign teeth aligners (invisible braces) to solve some concerns I have with my teeth. It took just about 11 months, but my house in NC finally sold!!!! I spent quite a bit of time enjoying beautiful Lake Ontario – mostly at Point Breeze with a couple of days at Olcott Beach and Charlotte. And, something I never thought I’d hear myself say, I bought and learned how to use a snow blower!

WOW – I sure packed a lot into a year that seemed to only last a split second!

Reflecting on some of the simple JOYS 2012 brought:

Watching the girls learn to love playing in the snow – leaping around through snow that was nearly shoulder deep on them, trying to catch snowballs I would throw at them, wrestling and rolling around in the fluffy cold stuff!
Riding my lawn mower around the yard with my iTunes blaring classic rock and singing along at the top of my lungs!
Joining the choir at church – I’ve found (to my great surprise) that when I’m not singing rock and roll along with the radio or dancing through the house singing Broadway show tunes to entertain the girls and let my “smile” shine, that I actually don’t have a half bad singing voice – if I concentrate on singing properly!
Sitting on my patio or in my dormer looking out over the lovely neighborhood I live in!
Meeting so many great new people!
Welcoming a new member of our family – my beautiful Great Niece, Taryn!

So, now on to 2013! Life is pretty darned good and I’m blessed with family, friends, a great house, and three amazing dogs – the girls – my sweet companions! So, I don’t have much that I would resolve to improve or change. But, I guess there are a few things I could work on this coming year, so here are my New Year’s Resolutions for 2013:

I really need to get hooked up with a good doctor and start taking better care of my health! I have one in the works – hope I like her – if not, I’ll keep looking!
Yeah, OK – along with that, I will work on losing some weight!
I will continue to work hard at being the person my dogs think I am…….loving, caring, supportive, and kind to others!

Some of the highlights on my “2013 To Do” list:

I will plan a trip to AZ to see Ronald and Lisa this spring – and, yes, Bonnie, I’ll be sure to spend some time with you, too!
Day or overnight trips to: Baseball Hall of Fame, Corning Glass Museum, and a few other points of interest!
New countertops in the kitchen!
Find more time for creative outlets for myself — knitting, crocheting, writing, etc.

So, there you have it! My past year in a nutshell and my predictions for the year to come. I wish everyone a happy, healthy, joyous, and prosperous New Year!

“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today!”

~ James Dean

The Final Chapter

Oct6

I closed a book this week…..the final chapter was complete and the story has ended. As with all books you truly love reading, the ending came with mixed emotions – on one hand the story will always remain with you in memories, but on the other hand coming to that last page is usually so sad……and then comes the excitement about moving on to the next really good book. When I finish reading the last page of a great book, I usually sit there for a while holding the book and thinking through the story ensuring I won’t soon forget it. I felt that way on Monday. The book analogy is just that, though - an analogy – I didn’t literally finish reading a book. I did, however, close the book on a chapter in my life – cut the final physical ties – said goodbye to something I treasured.

Monday was the closing of the sale of my home in Sanford, NC. Last November, I retired, put my house on the market, and moved my life back to my hometown in Albion, NY. It was a good decision and a good move for me. But, I found that selling my home was not going to be as easy as I envisioned – physically or emotionally. It was an adorable, charming home with excellent curb appeal in a great neighborhood and perfect location at an affordable price – it was sure to sell before I could get settled in Albion, right? Wrong! One week shy of eleven months later, the sale officially closed. I assumed and hoped I wouldn’t have to manage mortgages and expenses on two houses for much more than 4-6 months, but also knew that this economy might dictate a longer duration. So, now it is done and from a financial perspective, I am over joyed! From an emotional perspective, it was sad to close that book.

Putting a solid period at the end of this chapter of my life was more than just selling a possession I no longer had a need for. I was selling a home that I put a lot of my love and personality into. I had every intention of it being the last home I ever lived in, so I put a lot of time and thought into making it my own. I purchased it in 2003 and every year I’d take my bonus and tax return and plan out the projects I wanted to accomplish that year. When all the stars were aligned perfectly to form my decision to retire and move back home, the house was almost exactly the way I wanted it — just a couple minor projects were left on my “to do” list. But, that’s OK — that’s the way life goes — just when you think you’ve made it to where you thought you wanted to be when you grew up, another goal, twist in the road, or exciting destination pops up and you take it from there!

It also means that I have no more physical ties to Sanford. I still have friends there, so I’ll have good reasons to visit occasionally, but the sale of my home was the last of the tangible ties I had to a community I enjoyed being a part of.

So, that is that! On Monday, I waited patiently all day to hear that the closing was finished and when I got the word, I felt relieved – a big financial weight was lifted off my shoulders, I felt excited – definitely cause for celebration, and then I cried – my lovely home was no longer mine!

And then I wandered through my home here in Albion and smiled at the work I’ve done, so far, to make THIS home my own. And I got the warm fuzzies when I thought about how so very happy I am here – in this new home so close to my family, childhood friends, and new friends. And the tears went away. And I felt good, comfortable, and content. And I put the book I just finished away on my memory shelf – it is done!

Goodbye, Sanford house……..I hope your new owner loves you as much as I did!!!!

Saturday Evening on the Patio

Jun23

This evening, like most evenings, I went out to water the plants and new trees and bushes just after the sun really got into its initial descent for the night – about 7:30-ish. I started with the front yard and then headed out to do the back yard. I left the patio door open so the girls could watch me do the front yard either from the back yard through the fence or from inside looking out the windows. Then, when I did the back yard, they followed me around making sure I did it right and didn’t miss a pot!!! It was such a gorgeous evening, so when I finished with the back yard, I sat on the wicker love seat on the patio to take some time to enjoy it with the girls. I love relaxing on the patio and just sitting back and listening to the sounds and watching the sky and tree tops.

Tonight, the air was a comfortable mid-70 degrees and the sky was still a bright, clear blue and it wasn’t “buggy” at all. I leaned my head back and watched as the light, feathery clouds floated slowly across the sky and the tree tops waved ever so gently – barely moving. The birds were chirping and there were some distant sounds of a party – some faint music and voices with laughter. Amy started out sitting on the love seat beside me while Katie sat on the patio gazing across the yard to the neighbors and Megan wandered aimlessly around the yard playing with her ball and sniffing for signs of intruders (or bugs……). I watched as a jet glided across the sky leaving the tell-tale white jet stream behind. I wondered where it was going, who was on it, what their stories were, and what their plans would be once they made it to their destinations. As the sun set, it shined on the tree tops, making them glow. The yellow tips on the Locus tree just across my fence line shined bright in stark contrast to the darker Maple trees behind it. Such beauty to behold!

After a little while, Amy got down to pester Katie and give her kisses. Megan immediately noticed the empty spot next to me and seized the opportunity to join me on the love seat to show me her ball – as if it was a brand new ball that she found lurking in the grass – not the same ball that she has brought to show me at least a thousand times before. Once I had a chance to adequately praise the beauty of her ball, she leaped down and ran out into the grass with it, dropping it for something more interesting that caught her attention. Soon, I was drifting off into la-la land from the gentle breeze on my face……..all three dogs were sprawled out either on the patio or in the grass – mostly dozing and occasionally looking up in response to a bird flying low across the yard or a sound that interested them. I had just decided it was about time to go in when Katie decided to take her turn beside me on the love seat. So, to keep her from feeling like I didn’t want to sit with her, I stayed a while longer with one arm around her shoulders and holding her hand – she loves to hold hands!

When I finally did give in and went inside, I found a surprise in the form of a plastic wrapper on the living room floor. Upon closer examination, I noticed that it previously contained the eight hamburger buns I purchased earlier in the day, but hadn’t put in the bread box, yet…….and, apparently, left too close to the edge of the counter in the kitchen. The bag was empty —- not a crumb remained —- all eight of the buns, gone —- all eight of them!!!! I concluded that Megan decided to take advantage of the time it took me to water the front yard plants – I know it was Megan and I know it was while I was in the front yard, because I noticed Megan in the house through the living room windows and the other two in the back yard while I was in front and then, all three followed me around while I was in the back. So, Megan had quite an evening snack…….little piglet that she is…….and I need to get more buns for the hamburgers I planned for dinner sometime in the next couple of days!!!

So, that was my Saturday evening……..what a joy (except for the discovery at the end)!

Bring it on, Summer!

May5

May is here and the anticipation of summer and all that summer brings is raging rampant! It will soon be Memorial Day Weekend – the ceremonial start of the summer season (even though summer doesn’t “officially” start until June 20th). Thoughts of flowers, picnics, the lake, lounging on the patio, and other summer fun fill my head. I am so looking forward to this summer – this area has so much to offer in the summer and I plan to enjoy it as much as I can!

Everywhere you look, people are getting ready for summer – sprucing up their lawns, opening up their pools, and setting out their lawn furniture. I am no exception. Sometime next week (if the weather forecasts hold), my yard will undergo a transformation – new flowering trees will be planted, old bushes will be removed, new beds will be prepped, and new plants will be strategically placed to give the yard a colorful look that will compliment the house and reflect my personality. Soon there will be weeping cherries, weeping crab apples, dogwoods, Bradford pears, azaleas, hydrangeas, peonies, rhododendrons, lilacs, roses, day lilies, and more - all in pinks, purples, reds, and yellows. Then, by Memorial Weekend, I’ll hit the local nurseries and pick out hanging baskets for the front porch and flats of beautiful annuals to plant in crocks around the patio. The wind chimes will be placed on shepherd hooks and decorative items will find just the right spots to add a little “something” to the landscape. This is the last of the big projects I have planned, for now, so once this is done I’ll be able to sit back and enjoy the beauty and the fun of summer!

And then there is the lake! I talk a lot on here about how much I love Point Breeze, but there is a lot more to Lake Ontario to love! After all, it is one of the Great Lakes! Last week, I went to Newfane to the nursery that is doing the landscaping I’m having done. I went to pick out the trees and finalize the types of plants I wanted. Newfane is north of the Ridge towards the lake just inside Niagara County. If you take the road that goes through Newfane all the way to the lake, you run right into Olcott…and right into Lake Ontario, if you don’t stop when you’re supposed to. My Mom, my brother, and I used to go to Olcott a lot when I was little. It was so much fun – lots of rides and arcade games and hot dog stands and ice cream and, of course, the lake! So, when I was done at the nursery, I went on down to Olcott to look around. It was very quiet – not the busy place it tends to be in the summer season, but there were several crews hard at work getting things ready for the visitors that will soon be making their way down there. Building exteriors were being painted, streets were being cleaned, landscapers were sprucing up all around, and other odds and ends were being taken care of. It was a fairly warm day, but very windy and it had rained the night before, so the lake was rough and churned up – but it was still a joy to see.

I parked the car and wandered along the main streets – looking out over the lake, checking out the picnic park, admiring the lighthouse, and grinning ear to ear when I saw that the wonderful old carousel and arcade games are still there and would be opening Memorial Weekend! (Click here for info on Olcott Beach Carousel Park) One memory that stands out for me about Olcott Beach is the Skeeball machines — I loved playing them when I was a kid! You place your coin in the machine and get a set of wooden balls that you roll up the ramp to make them jump into one of several rings for your score…..and a PRIZE. It was so much fun! And, of course, since I absolutely adore carousels, the carousel brings fond memories, as well! I can not wait to go back and check it out once it opens up for the season!

Here are some photos from my afternoon adventure at Olcott Beach:

So come on, Summer……..bring it on!!!! I’m ready to put the top down on the pony and just go drive and see what I can find!!!!

Serenity

Apr21

Serenity, peace, living the good life……call it what you will, but I have had three days in a row where I have enjoyed perfect serenity – a little piece of heaven – and I didn’t have to go far to find it! Right now, I am in the middle of several things that have made life a little hectic, so it was a welcomed gift to stumble upon these opportunities to just sit back and drink in some peaceful relaxation. Now that I’m retired, I can live a little easier when things get hectic – no need to squeeze “hectic” in with “work”. Still, I usually plan some relaxation time into most days. But, in the last three days, opportunities reached out and found me – I literally stumbled on each one without any effort to seek them out.

The first opportunity was on Thursday evening. After leaving from a visit at Mom’s, I decided to swing by Point Breeze to check out the new brick walkway at the lighthouse where the Oak Orchard River meets Lake Ontario. I read that the walkway was finished, but hadn’t had a chance to go see it, yet. I especially wanted to see it because Mom and I had bought several bricks for family members during the fundraising efforts. It was a warm day, but it is always much cooler at the lake, so I assumed it would be too chilly to hang around. I decided to just take a few minutes to check out the bricks and head home. As it turned out, it was a beautiful evening at the Point, too. I took a leisurely stroll along the walkway and found the bricks we purchased. Then, I walked along the shore line gazing at the calm waters of Lake Ontario and sat on a bench overlooking Oak Orchard River. The sky and water were so beautiful – such vivid colors and water as smooth as glass. I sat there for what seemed like hours (actually probably about 45 minutes or so) just listening to the sounds and feeling the warm breeze. It was amazing and so peaceful. After a little while, I got in my car, put the top down, and drove home with the wind blowing through my hair. Aahh – heaven!

The next opportunity was Friday evening. I just finished doing some things in the back yard and sat for just a minute on the wicker love seat on the patio. I was planning to call the girls in and go fix some supper. The girls had other plans. As soon as I sat down, Katie curled up on the love seat beside me and Amy curled up on the wicker chair across the patio from us. Megan was taking a stroll around the yard ensuring every blade of grass was where it was supposed to be. Since Katie and Amy joined me on the patio, I sat back, got comfortable, and seized another opportunity for some peaceful relaxation. We sat there for close to two hours just loving the warm, quiet evening on our backyard patio. It was such a lovely evening and the only sounds came from distant lawn mowers and a few birds chirping. I could have stayed there a couple more hours, but the girls must have realized it was past their supper time and wanted to go inside. It was an amazing end to a busy day.

The third opportunity came this afternoon. It was a cold, rainy Saturday, so I really didn’t feel much like going out and running errands or anything. I planned, pretty much, to just stay home and take care of some stuff around the house. Then, I remembered that there was a book signing scheduled for today at the Pullman Universalist Church in town. The book is a compilation of people and things that are legendary in Orleans County titled “Legendary Locals of Orleans County”. I heard about the book at a luncheon I went to with Mom a couple of months ago and wanted to get a copy when it was ready for sale. So, I decided to go to the book signing just to get a copy of the book and get back home where I could be warm and dry. I went to the church, bought the book, and spoke briefly with the authors while they signed it for me. I have always admired the Pullman church from the outside – it is a beautiful historic church that was built with Medina Sandstone in 1894 by George Pullman (of the Pullman railroad sleeper car fame) in memory of his parents, who resided in Albion in the 1840s. It looks like a castle and it is the first landmark I think of when I think of downtown Albion. But, I’ve never been inside it. Not sure why, just never have been – at least not that I remember. So, when I got my book signed, I decided to leave through the sanctuary to have a look around. It is a surprisingly small sanctuary – given the exterior appearance – but really quite lovely. To provide a musical background for the book signing and reception, there was a lady playing a harp in the sanctuary. The music was so beautiful and the sanctuary was so lovely, that I decided to sit in a pew and take a few minutes to listen to the music and thumb through the book. Other than an occassional person wandering through, I sat all alone with the harpist – as if I was in my own little world and she was making her heavenly sounds just for me. I stayed there about a half an hour or so and enjoyed every minute of it. I hated to leave and go back out into the cold drizzle. I wish I had taken some photos of the sanctuary and harpist……..but, all I have is this photo of the outside that I took a couple of years ago.

Moral of this story? Pay attention! Recognize when an opportunity to participate in something special comes up and take advantage of it. If I had ignored the signs and gone about my business, I would have missed out of three amazing moments of joy.

Thoughts for Thursday

Feb16

I can not believe that it has been three months since I moved back home to Albion! I know it has been three months and one week because the calendar says so and calendars don’t lie. But, it sure doesn’t feel like it! In some ways, it feels like just yesterday – I find myself wondering where the time went! In other ways, it feels like a lifetime ago – my life before June 1985 and after November 2011 seem to connect and melt together, making the life I had in between seem like an island of memories. I’m not sure how to react when those feelings come over me because that “in between” life was very important to me and I don’t really want to be distanced from it. At any rate – it absolutely doesn’t feel like three months and one week ago – depending on my frame of mind when I think of it, it either feels like yesterday or a lifetime ago – there is no happy medium and no concept of three months and one week.

A lot has been going on since I’ve been back. I think that has a lot to do with my concept of time. The first two months were a whirlwind of getting settled, decorating, stocking up, and the holidays. So, they flew by in a blink of an eye! This last month has been calmer, more focused, slower paced. Still lots to finish organizing, some decorating still in process, but getting a lot done and having fun exploring and reacquainting myself with what Western NY has to offer. And, of course, enjoying spending time with Mom and my brother.

This last month also brought snow – lots of snow – in a few concentrated pockets of winter weather. Overall, the winter has been extremely mild for this area. We didn’t get any measurable snow until January and when it did come, it came in short spurts where it would dump a lot in a day or two and then we’d have a period of warmer weather and rain. No huge piles of snow lingering for weeks, months. It has been really nice of Mother Nature to make my first full winter in 26 years an easy one so that I could get used to it without being snowed in!

When your life changes so drastically in a blink of an eye, it causes you to think about the details – big and small – and come to some realizations about yourself, your life, and your surroundings. Here are just a few of the things I’ve come to realize:

I don’t dislike winter as much as I thought I did. I’ve never really enjoyed winter and I hate snow – or so I thought! Don’t get me wrong – I’m still not a fan! But, I don’t mind it that much. I bundle up and go out and shovel and play with the girls in the back yard and really enjoy looking out and seeing how pretty it is as it is coming down and blankets the yard. I bought two super warm parkas (a dressy one and an every day one) and boots so I could go out for prolonged periods. I already had hats, scarves, and gloves – some that were gifts from Sanford friends when I left. I bought a neat snow shovel that is long and scooped so you can “push” the snow, instead of shoveling and throwing it, so it is not that big of a chore to clear the driveway, steps, and patio (so long as I get it while it is light and fluffy and don’t let it pile up too high between clearings). I was worried that I would get socked in and feel trapped inside, but I haven’t and that is a pleasant surprise!
It is true what they say about “thin blood”. I’m not sure if there is an actual difference between southern and northern blood, but it definitely feels like there is! I am cold…….all the time! I keep my home at a reasonable temperature that would have felt comfortable to me in Sanford, but feels COLD to me here! I wrap up in a blanket every time I go sit on the couch to watch TV and shiver when I sit at the computer. The only time I feel warm is when I’m moving around or in bed with fleece sheets and a very warm quilt covering me up! And I have not had a night sweat or hot flash since I’ve been here! I wonder how long it will take my blood to thicken up so I’m not so cold all the time (although, if it means the night sweats and hot flashes come back, maybe I’ll just stay the way I am).
I really enjoy not having a job to go to! This one really surprises me whenever I think about it. I assumed I would be bored out of my mind by now and that it would take a long time to adjust to not getting up for work in the mornings. I figured I’d feel like I was supposed to be somewhere or wake up and think I slept through the alarm and I was late for something! But, no — not even once! It took about a week, maybe two, to stop waking up at 5:00-ish and for the girls to realize they weren’t getting up to go out between 5:00-6:00 am. Now, our regular time to wake up is about 7:00-7:30 and it is a nice, gentle, natural way to wake up – no alarm clocks and no leaping out of bed to start the day off rushed. I know I’ve kept myself busy with stuff, but I’m still surprised that I have not once felt like I should have a job to go to. That is so odd to me – I have had a job of some kind since I was 16 years old and before that I baby sat and did odd jobs for extra spending money. To suddenly be retired after about 40 years of working steady “should” result in a sense of loss on some level…………….but it hasn’t! I keep waiting for the need to find something to fill in the gap, but there isn’t a gap to fill………….yet!
I like breakfast! I have never been much of a breakfast person. I don’t want to even think about food when I first wake up and looking in the refrigerator tends to turn my stomach. I’d much rather wait a couple of hours and have something a little later in the morning – and then, usually not much – tea and a bagel was my usual! But, I’m thinking it was more to do with the early wake up time and having to rush to get myself ready for work. Now, I get up about 7:00-7:30, take care of the girls, and then want some breakfast to take in to the den and eat while I check the morning news, blogs, Facebook, etc. Sometimes it is a bagel and cereal, sometimes I fix oatmeal or eggs and I find I like a warm drink – like tea or hot chocolate to start the day, too. Whatever I choose, I eat a full, satisfying breakfast every morning and I like it!
Stress obviously had a lot to do with my health. Yeah, I know it is common knowledge that stress does bad things to you and I knew it at the time. But, I keep finding new evidence of it in myself. Most recently, I realized that I have not had one headache since I’ve been stress free – not one! I used to have constant headaches – I rarely went 2 or 3 days without at least a little one and routinely had migraines. I don’t know what made me think of it, but I was thinking it had been a while since I had a headache and the more I thought about it, I realized it had been since a week or two before I moved – once I knew everything was set and going according to plan.
I love being “home”. Right from the day I arrived, I felt like I was back where I’m supposed to be. I loved Sanford and will always remember and be grateful for the good friends, great times, and proud accomplishments I made there. I am fortunate to have lived in two states and feel like I belong in both. But, this is home and I am reminded of that each and every day by something I see or do.

So, that’s what I’m thinking about this fine Thursday morning……..the snow from this past weekend is melting away and the sun is shining. I’ve finished my cereal and bagel, read all the morning’s news and blogs, and am ready to take on whatever needs to be done today. I think I may just relax and read some of the book I started this week.

Upstairs, Downstairs, All Around The House

Jan23

Let’s talk about stairs today, shall we? We can talk about the idea of stairs, what they do, where they lead, and what an imaginative mind can do with them. I have stairs in my house. I didn’t particularly want stairs in my house. But, I have them, just the same. When I was looking for my last house, I looked at homes with and without stairs. I decided the homes without stairs were far more appealing to me. So, when I looked for my current home, I put “ranch style” as a primary criteria. Oh, I did look at a couple of split levels, but knew as soon as I toured them that I wouldn’t want one. Much to my surprise, the home I fell in love with was a two-story Cape Cod – of course, where there is more than one story, there must be stairs. The photos on the realty sites screamed out at me and when I went to see it, I fell head over heels in love with it! The stairs still concerned me, but I decided to just try to get over it. And I have…..gotten over it, that is.

So, before we get into some of the more fun stuff…….why is it that I was so determined to not have stairs in my house? Well, first and foremost, I have a bad knee and stairs tend to aggravate it. So far, that hasn’t been a problem at all. They have a comfortable rise and it doesn’t tend to bother my knee – even when it is irritated already, I just need to take it slower when that is the case. Oh, believe me, I’m not running up and down them by any means, but they aren’t a problem for me.

Secondly, I have a sometimes overwhelming fear of falling. To help me with that concern, I took out the bulky carpet that was on the stairs when I bought the house and replaced it with a nice, low profile, tight runner - more functional, safe, and looks so much better, too! I also ensure I have a hand free to hold the railing and let the dogs go down ahead of me so they don’t accidentally trip me up.

Problem numbers one and two – gone!

The third concern was just fear of an upstairs…….I know, what is wrong with this girl? Well, I only lived in two houses with upstairs living areas before this one (actually, the first few homes I lived in as a baby and small child had upstairs living areas, but I was too young to remember any of them, so they aren’t involved in this story). Both of the homes I’m talking about had upstairs that gave me the creeps. I have no idea why, but I really hated being up there alone and felt creepy even if others were with me. Yeah, one was when I was a child, so you could chalk that up to childish fears and imaginations – there was an attic door that led to a dark, scary attic and railroad tracks that were close by and caused dreams of hobos hopping off the trains and climbing into my bedroom windows (yeah, the weird dreams I have started early in life). But, the other was when I was a married adult, so that is totally unexplainable, except that it was a somewhat unfinished area that we used primarily for storage until my older step-son came to live with us for a while and wanted his room up there, so I really didn’t have a lot of need to go up there.

But, I am not only fully comfortable in the upstairs here, I actually enjoy it! I have a huge dormer in my bedroom (both front bedrooms have them) that I have a lovely sitting area in and really enjoy sitting there looking out the window or reading. It is one of my most favorite spots in the house to sit and relax. I even joke to myself about something that would normally give me the creeps, but doesn’t — when I sit in the dormer looking out the window over the neighborhood, I think of the creepy mother in “Psycho” – hahaha!!! The other image that comes to mind is the old woman in the book “Mill River Recluse”, who enjoyed looking out the bedroom window in her marble mansion on the hill onto the community below – a much more pleasant analogy, for sure.

So, problem number three didn’t need to be overcome – it was non-existent! When I say this house is the PERFECT house for me, I mean that from top to bottom! So, stairs? No problem!

So, we know what my idea of stairs is – or was, until I found these very pleasant stairs. We know what stairs do – they provide a method of movement from one story to another. We know where they lead to in my house – the upstairs living area that consists of my master bedroom with a fabulous sitting area, a guest room, a laundry room, and the full bathroom. Now, let’s talk about what fun imaginative minds can have with stairs.

My brother used to love to slide down the bannister when we lived at my grandparent’s house (the one with the scary upstairs). It was a clear shot from the top to the bottom and there was a circular post at the end to stop him from falling off onto the floor. Lord help him if my Grandfather were to catch him, but he would do it whenever he thought there was a chance of getting away with it! hahaha A bannister is a wonderful thing for the imaginative mind of a child. They can be a super hero rushing off to save a damsel in distress or a fireman sliding down the pole to be whisked off to a fire or a daring circus artist performing a death-defying act – the scenarios are endless! Not that I would try it, but I know the bannister here isn’t all that conducive to sliding down it! The bannister only goes half way up the stairs (and then there is a wall and just a railing the rest of the way to the top) and it ends abruptly (nothing to stop you from falling onto the floor), plus, the spindles are rather small, so might not withstand too much weight on them. So, no bannister sliding fun in this house!

For my four-legged babies – the girls, the stairs are a playground! Katie and Amy wrestle on their way up and down the stairs – at first I worried they would get tangled up and tumble down the stairs and get hurt, but they keep their balance and continue their playful fun. Megan was apprehensive about the stairs, at first. The night we arrived in our new home, she was the first to go upstairs to check out the rest of the house – she’s my nosy one! But, after she ran all over every room up there, I heard her whimpering. I looked up the stairs and she was standing at the top with most of her body around the corner in the bedroom looking down from a safe distance. Her head was hanging down and she was whining! I called to her, but she wouldn’t come down. I went up to see if she’d come down with me, but no dice – she was clearly petrified to go down the stairs. In the mean time, Katie and Amy had gone up and down at least a dozen times. I tried to get her to go with me while I scooched down the stairs beside her – as long as my hand was on her back and I was right beside her, she was fine. We got to the bottom and she ran off to explore more of her new home. She followed the other girls back up and was, again, scared to death to come back down. So, I sat at the top and had her sit beside me and watch the other two go up and down. Finally, she followed them down and has been fine ever since – she just had to be taught how to go down!

NOW – Megan is up and down those stairs all the time! She runs around the downstairs, then up the stairs, runs all around the upstairs, then back down………I hear her race up the stairs and I hear her tearing all around the rooms upstairs and up on the bed and rolling all over the bed and off the bed and race back down! She loves the stairs and really loves being upstairs because that is where the bed is! hahaha All three get all excited when I head up the stairs – they have to race to follow me up and watch me do laundry or curl up on the bed while I get my shower or when I’m sitting in the dormer. When I say “time to go upstairs for bed”, they leap up and run to beat me to the top of the stairs, where they all stand with their wiggly butts watching me follow them up. When I get close enough for Megan to reach me, she stretches out to give me a kiss – like she’s congratulating me on making it to the top – then she quickly turns and runs to jump up on the bed! hahaha

Yes, the stairs and the upstairs living area in my new house are very special parts of the house and our routines! As for having creative fun with the stairs, though – well, that’s Katie, Megan, and Amy’s job. For me, the most creative I get is using them to place things that I want to take up or bring down so that I don’t forget them the next time I go up or down! hahaha Although, I guess you can add the images I get when sit looking out the window in my dormer to the “imaginative” category, but that is more about “upstairs” and not the stairs, themselves……..hhhmmm

The most creative and enjoyable thing I’ve ever seen on a staircase is in an old movie where Shirley Temple and Bill Bojangles Robinson dance on a staircase. It is magical and thoroughly entertaining. Take a look:

So, I’ll leave you on that note! Next time you go up a set of stairs, think about what they mean to you, where they go, what wonderful things they allow you to do, what creative fun you might have with them, and……….dance!!!!

Sentimental Value

Dec3

I have a lot of things that had belonged to my grandparents – mostly things that were my Grandmother’s, but also some of Grandpa’s things. I am very pleased and proud to have them in my home and have always displayed them prominently or made sure they were in use and not just sitting in a closet somewhere for “their protection”. I get a lot of joy out of using them as they used them. Of course, I’m a little more careful with them than I am with my other things, but I want to enjoy them, as I’m sure my grandparents would want me to.

One piece that has particular sentimental value for me is a mantel clock that was in my grandparent’s living room for many years. My grandfather bought it on a trip to New York City with his bowling team when my mother was a little girl. The team earned a spot in the NY State Tournament of ABC Leagues. While they were there, he found this Seth Thomas electric mantel clock in a jewelry store and brought it home with him. He used to talk of walking the streets of NYC with this clock under his arm. The price tag is still stapled to the bottom of the clock – he paid $22.00 for it! Of course, that was about 70 years ago (give or take a year or two), so that was a LOT of money for a clock!

I grew up listening to the clock chime on the hour and half hour and the sound of it makes me think of my grandparents and the years that we lived with them. I get all warm and fuzzy when I hear the chimes and the clock means a lot to me! So, when my Grandfather asked me if there was anything that I wanted, I immediately told him that the clock would be the best thing I could possibly have because it single-handedly brought up every memory I had of them and that house and my childhood! So, it became mine. And I adored having it in my home.

Unfortunately, a few years after I got it, it stopped working! I searched for an antique clock repair shop to see if I could get it fixed. It broke my heart that it no longer kept time and, most importantly, no longer chimed! I found one near Sanford that kept it for several weeks only to tell me that clocks that old – especially electric ones – can’t be fixed and he recommended I let him gut it and turn it into a battery operated clock that wouldn’t chime. I told him it would sit on the mantle and just look pretty before I would let him do that to it! I continued my search. I talked to an antique clock dealer in Raleigh that said I had to have someone who specialized in electric clocks of that age and that he knew of only 2 or 3 in the country who did that kind of specialized work. He referred me to a shop in Virginia. I contacted them and was put on a 6 month waiting list for service. After about 8 months, I discovered they went out of business. So, I gave up and decided that it would just be a visual treasure and not a musical one!

After I moved up here, I had a hunch and posted a photo on Facebook to ask if anyone knew of someone in this area that may be able to help. I got a few suggestions and decided to call the first one, which was also the one that more than one person recommended. It is a gentleman in Lockport. He said he’d take a look at it, so I took it up to him today. He sounded very knowledgable and encouraging and was a very nice, kind man. I felt comfortable leaving it with him and am hopeful that he can get it fixed for me! I’m excited, but trying not to get my hopes up TOO high – just in case he can’t fix it and I’m left with a broken heart!

My drive to Lockport was a pleasant adventure. I rarely used to go in that direction, which is towards Buffalo. I typically went the other way if I wanted to shop or go for entertainment – towards Rochester. So, I wasn’t sure where I was going or how to get there. I plugged the address into my GPS and headed out Route 31 – I knew that was the most direct way to get to downtown Lockport! But, my GPS really, really wanted me to go via Route 104 (Ridge Road)! Every street I came to, it would tell me to turn right so that I would head to Ridge Road! Geez! I knew how to get to the general area – I just wanted help navigating once I got there! It was still an enjoyable drive. It is a pretty day, today – cool, but sunny and bright and very pleasant! I went through downtown Middleport……..I don’t think I’ve ever been in downtown Middleport before! What a lovely little town…..very quaint and quiet with a cafe and a few shops…..small, though – if I had blinked, I would have missed it altogether! The sign entering the town said “Middleport – A Friendly Community” – I believe it! And, it was in Middleport that my GPS finally decided that it liked the way I was going and stopped trying to get me to go another way! There were a few other things along the way that I noticed and may have to go back some day when I have more time and check out.

So, thank you to my friends who recommended this guy in Lockport! I hope it pays off and I’ll soon be listening to the beautiful sounds of Grandpa’s clock chiming throughout the day and night again.

Moving On

Nov14

What a hectic, busy, emotional, etc., etc., etc., few weeks this has been! I retired from my job of 23+ years, packed up my house and dogs, put my home on the market, said good-bye to a lot of wonderful friends, and moved from central NC to western NY! Whew! That’s a lot to take in and go through. But, I came through it all with only a few bruises – hahaha – and am ready to move on! Be sure to read those last few words correctly – I said “move on” not just “move”! It is a figurative statement for getting on with my new life and has NOTHING to do with physically moving — something I swear I will NEVER do again!!! If this whole experience has taught me anything, it is that I don’t EVER want to go through it again – EVER!

So, let me paint a picture of the past few week’s events:

I had my 55th birthday. Attended a wonderful going away party put on by some great friends! I worked my last week at a company I’ve been with for 23+ years. And I put my house on the market!

That may seem like a lot, in itself, but that was all the easy part! Now for the meat of it:

I’m a procrastinator! I typically prefer to do things at the last-minute and usually do them better when I’m on a tight deadline. I’m not crazy about the pressure that puts me under, but it works for me. Going on a trip? Do laundry and pack the night before. Have a report to write? Pull an all nighter or two and do it a day or two before it is due. Get the picture? Well, I have learned (the hard way) that packing for a move this big is NOT something you want to do under these circumstances. I’ve had to move quickly due to short notice in the past and made it work, but if you have the luxury of time, do it a little at a time over a longer period! Unfortunately, I didn’t learn this lesson until I was well into rushing to get an entire house packed and emptied out for a planned move date. I actually could have been flexible with my move date, but I had already set the date, scheduled the Uhaul, and made other plans that were tied to the chosen move date. Pushing it out once I realized I needed more time wouldn’t have been an easy option – and to be honest, probably wouldn’t have done any good because of my tendency to not take advantage of extra time. So, what started out with organized, well labeled boxes ended up with boxes full of a mixture of stuff and labeled with the room that most of the contents belonged in.

I had a lot of help from friends….(thank you!!!!)

We packed the furniture and big stuff on Saturday, but still had boxes to pack and things to do before we could leave Sanford, so the actual move date was Tuesday. That meant that I had three nights in the house with no furniture. So, I had them leave the mattress and my desk chair off the truck so I’d have a place to sleep and something to sit on. It worked out – especially since I had so much more packing to do, I didn’t really have the time to get too comfortable. The mattress on the floor was interesting – it was more comfortable than I thought it would be, but when I decided it was OK to do that, I wasn’t thinking about how difficult it would be to get up off of it from so low to the ground with nothing to grab onto! hahaha But, I made out just fine. And the girls loved “camping in the living room”!

We decided the best way to travel was for Ronald and Lisa to go in the Uhaul and tow the Pony and for me to follow in the mini van with the girls. The girls started out with new seat belt harnesses to keep them safe. If you think the next two photos look like that worked out perfectly, you’re sadly mistaken!

I got Katie settled in the front seat with her harness hooked up. Then, Megan got in her seat and was content. Then came the struggle – Amy usually likes to sit in the front seat with Katie and that wouldn’t work on this long of a trip, so I tried to coax her into the back seat. The more I tried to get her to get in the back seat, the more frightened she became. It soon turned into a traumatic experience for her and she was shaking and wouldn’t move. I had to pick her up and force her into the seat, get her hooked up, and then sat and held her for a while to calm her down – I held her close, stroked her, and sang to her. Finally, she was calm and content. But – by the time I finished putting other things in the back of the van and did a final walk through the house to be sure we didn’t forget anything and that everything was secure, I came out to find them ALL half out of their harnesses!!! All three had at least one front leg out of the harness and Megan actually had both front legs out and the harness was down around her stomach! Oh, boy – we didn’t even leave the driveway and it was obvious that was NOT going to work! So, I took all the harnesses off and hooked the leads directly to their collars. I know that is not recommended – if something should happen and they get thrown around, it could strangle them. But, I thought it was best for them in this situation and just had to hope nothing bad happened. Then, at the first stop, they all got out and it was major drama all over again with trying to get Amy into her seat! So, I realized that it was far less traumatic for them to sit where they wanted to and move around – they were on Benadryl, so they were mostly sleeping anyway and the design of the van made it so they couldn’t rush out when I opened my door to get out at a stop, so it was fine………and they were much happier after that! It worked out well and was so much less stressful for them AND me!!! Megan didn’t do her duty at all at any stop even though she drank a lot and ate a little at each stop – she finally did when we got to the house, but not on the trip. And Katie never really got the full effects of the Benadryl – Megan and Amy slept or laid still the whole time the van was moving, but Katie still stood at attention right up until well after dark – then she slept a little bit. But, all in all, it was an easy trip for them – that is, after I realized the planned arrangements were too stressful for them.

Aside from the seating arrangement drama, the travel plans worked really well and it was a pleasant, uneventful trip. We left about 7:00 am, drove straight through with only a few stops, and made it to my new home a little after midnight! It took a little longer to drive than usual, but that was to be expected. Ronald and Lisa left from their house and I left from mine about a half hour behind them, so when we caught up to each other at the first stop, it was the first time I saw the pony on the trailer……….it sure was strange driving behind it! hahaha

It was a lovely day for the drive – sunny, beautiful blue sky, warm, gorgeous autumn leaves! Couldn’t have asked for better weather! I just had to snap a few pictures along the way – like the first one below of Pilot Mountain! When my son, Robby, was little and we’d make this drive back and forth between NC and NY, we’d always look forward to seeing Pilot Mountain – we called it the “big boobie in the sky”! hahaha

So, I’m here and settling in. What have I been up to since I got here? Well, we unloaded everything and got it all in the right rooms (for the most part – remember, some boxes have a mixture of stuff that may belong in multiple rooms), I’ve had dinner with my Mom three times, I ran some errands, and I unpacked a little. I keep trying to get myself motivated to unpack and it just isn’t happening. I’ve decided that I am more sick and tired of packing and cleaning than I am of the clutter, right now, so the clutter is not working as a strong motivator to get busy – yet! I also don’t have any deadlines for unpacking and, as I said earlier, I’m a procrastinator and do much better if I’m up against a deadline! The only deadline I have is if I decide to fix Thanksgiving here, so maybe I’d better set that plan to get myself in action! Also, I caught a little cold the first day I was here – I’ve been under so much stress from the move, my resistance must have been low. It isn’t enough to really get me “down”, but enough to keep my energy level a little low. But, I’m doing what needs to get done as it needs to get done and the rest will come!

The only casualty of the move that I’ve found, so far, is my computer! I securely packed all the electronics (computer, TVs, etc.) in the van so it would be safer – guess that didn’t work! My brother picked it up and put it on my computer desk and said “what is rattling around in there?”. He opened it up and the heat sink had broken off and was rolling around inside the case! My nephew is a computer technician, so he got a new part and fixed it, but there is more than just that wrong. When I start it up, it sits on the blue HP screen for 10-15 mins before it fully boots. Bryan (nephew) said that if the jarring broke off the heat sink, then no telling what else got damaged! So, he is going to build me a new one! For now, as long as I leave it on, it is OK and I have my laptop if it totally crashes. I’ve backed everything up onto an external drive, so whatever happens, I’m all set! Then, I had some connectivity problems with the internet and Time Warner had to change out the modems. But, now all is fine – I’m up and running and connected to the world and able to finally blog about my adventures in moving!

As for the girls: They have adjusted very well. When we arrived late Tuesday night (Weds morning), they ran all through the house exploring every inch and went out and explored their new fenced in back yard. They love the yard!!! Megan had a little drama that first night — she was the first to go upstairs, but was terrified to come back down them! Katie and Amy were up and down and up and down and playing all the way up and all the way down! But, Megan just stood around the corner with her head peeking out at the stairs and you could see the terror on her face!!! Poor thing! I went up and tried to get her to come down with me – I had my hand on her back the whole way, but she was terrified! Once she got down, she ran right back up and then was too afraid to come back down, again! That time, she wouldn’t have any part of my helping her. But, I got her to stand at the top of the stairs watching the other two and she finally ventured down along with them and has had no more trouble since! Her sisters taught her how and now she’s running up and down them like an old pro! Megan loves the window seat and is in it looking out most of the day and when I leave she gets in there to watch me go and is still there waiting to watch me return! I also captured her checking out the fireplace the first morning we were here! She’s been very curious about everything! They already know that we go upstairs to go to bed and down to the basement when we do laundry – as soon as I mention either, they head that way! They were upset the first couple of times I left and didn’t take them with me, but are fine, now when I have to go out somewhere. So, they are doing fine and settling right in to their new routines and surroundings!

So, all is good here…….we still have some unpacking and organizing to do and a lot of new sounds and things to get used to, but we’re content and ready to move on!!! But, you know when it REALLY all sunk in as being “real”? On Friday morning about 4:30 when Ronald and Lisa got in the van to drive back to NC – I watched them pull out of the driveway and head down the street……without me……I realized that I’m where I’m going to be and I’m not going back! For a split second, I got really sad – then the girls got my attention and I turned around and saw them curled up on the couch all comfy and we went back up to bed and I felt good – at home! Life is good!!!

Kim's Thoughts

Just a few thoughts I feel worthy of jotting down!

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