Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Spring Awakening

Finally, the first signs of spring showed up this
week...the bright yellow branches of forsythia
wildly sprouting everywhere...

It's about time...















110 comments:

Coreen said...

Time to close the book on winter 2010-11 & welcome Spring...

While you may have been enjoying summer temps, here it is still in the 50s, rainy...But this week you couldn't help but notice that the forsythia had finally popped everywhere...

Carol said...

Yes, the sweet light green of Spring. I love the color of green that starts Spring. It slowly get's darker and darker. s

And you Coreen, are having April showers. We are dry as a bone down here. I'm not going to complain because I'd rather have to water than have to bail.

jan said...

Beautiful green. I love seeing the forsythia and daffodils in early spring.

jan said...

Carol, am looking forward to Modern Family tonight. Spent all day doing student evals. Most did well. But it gets heavy. Some laughter, some tears. Glad it is done. It was not my group, but helped the part time faculty with the job as it was first time for her.

Carol said...

For Easter, I'd like to put in a request for some Easter Emma pics. I wanted to give you a little heads up Chloe so you have time to prepare. We haven't seen that little bunny in a while.

jan said...

Finished up clinical evals with one of the male students. He came into eval with his fatigues on. He is in army. He is 6-4 and a good sized fellow. I think he chose to come in dressed like this because he knows he looks quite intimidating. He is actually more like a big teddy bear. He did very well in the course-so no problems there. Best of luck to you Lucus. Thanks for your service.

jan said...

Chloe, me too. Will she hunt easter eggs. That would be a good pic to post here.

Carol said...

Jan, I'm surprised to hear that John is not sure about there being an afterlife. I do sincerely believe that our spirits survives. I don't want to think otherwise.

And if there wasn't an afterlife....we could all be Republicans.

jan said...

Coreen, the forsythia here bloomed about a month ago. It was beautiful. Interesting how it blooms in such diverse climate.

jan said...

Carol, John says he is in "flux" about an afterlife. Some days he thinks there is and other days he thinks there isn't. He says he thinks there is more than that???? Not sure what he means. I believed in an afterlife for years when I was a child. The church tries to convince us of this - I think to bribe or blackmail us into doing what they think we should. I try to do right, not because I think I will go to Hell or Heaven but because I need to feel I am doing the right thing because I am a good person.

Carol said...

One more day of work until my 4 day spiritual revival. I'm not going anywhere but I'll have 4 days for my spirit to relax and revive.

I'm so excited, I just can't hide it, I'm about to lose control and I think I like it...


I'm So Excited

jan said...

I believe like some of my jewish ancestors that we hang around after death for some time (40 days?). I don't believe we have bodies at that time. I don't know what happens after that. Somehow, I don't believe in the heaven or hell that the bible says.

jan said...

Carol, good for you and your spiritual revival. Sounds wonderful.

jan said...

Carol, what are you going to do in your spritual revival?

Carol said...

I'm watching Idol and recording Modern Family. I can't record Fox.

I really don't have a favorite anymore so no stress there. I like them all.

Carol said...

It's on now and they brought back some of the ones who were booted out earlier.

Carol said...

I'm going to be spontaneous.

Carol said...

Jan, those orbs and auras made me believe that life goes on. And I'm sure it's gonna be a cool experience.

Carol said...

With all the wildfires going on in Texas, Chloe needs to keep checking in to let us know her area is OK. I know we have a burn ban here because of the dryness but there are always those dumb people who will throw a lit cigerette out of a car window.

Carol said...

Jan, James knocked it out of the park tonight. I think some of his other disabilities make him even more talented and creative.

Carol said...

I still love Haley. I really like her voice and that yodeling thing she can do with her voice.

Carol said...

Casey is so talented and so much his own person. A unique individual.

Carol said...

Well, I voted! Yes I did. And voted and voted and voted and finally got tired of voting so I quit. You can vote up to 50 times. That is ridiculous. Like DWTS, they should limit the number of votes. Should be limited to one less than the number of contestants.

jan said...

I have not read as yet what you guys are saying here. I just watched James and I am blown away. He has always been my fav guy. what he did tonight was phenomenal. I am voting tonight.

jan said...

I like Scotty and he has a fan base, but he does not have the talent some of the other have.

jan said...

Haley has a very interesting and unique voice.

jan said...

Carol, after seeing all the show, who do you think will go home tomorrow?

Carol said...

I do love the kid but I'd have to vote for Scotty to go home. He still will have a country career. I gave most of my votes to the girls, not that they are the best but because they usually don't get the votes and both are good. I voted for the others also.

jan said...

I went into youtube and listened to Adelle sing that song and I thought Haley did just as well.

Jacob is a great singer but if its the teeny boppers who do the voting, Jacob may be going home.

jan said...

Good for you Carol, you are true to your gender principles.

Carol said...

I do think that Casey and James are phenomenal. Casey may do things that I don't think are mainstream teeny bopper. I think he has an old soul.

Carol said...

I do stand up for my gender Jan. Someone has to.

Carol said...

Women will continue to be second class until women learn that they have to support themselves.

jan said...

Carol, I loved that everyone was wearing the false red beard tonight. I also loved that Casey gave Jennifer a kiss. that was so cool.

jan said...

Casey does have something very special.

jan said...

Did you ever watch "Friends" Stephano reminds me of one of the guys on friends.

jan said...

Stephano is playing to the camera. His singing was ok but he was really flirty and kept his eyes open.

Carol said...

I like Stephano's singing and he is a cutey.

jan said...

Carol, you inspire me. I am voting for the girls. You go girls!

Carol said...

Jan, we might be the only ones voting for the girls. I'm sure there will be plenty of votes for the guys. I did vote for some of the guys also. I did have 50 votes, don't think I voted that many times though. I quit because I had to keep putting in those dumb letters each time.

Carol said...

I really think they all should have a music career. I don't think I will be too disappointed with the results this time.

Carol said...

Jan, wouldn't having no chance of an afterlife kinda make being a minister inconsequential? Ponder that. What do you think?

Carol said...

Could the Bible have been the first example of media mass manipulation? Maybe not a good ponder for our upcoming spiritual season.

I really want and need God. My time studying life just makes me feel that it just wasn't a big accident.

Carol said...

And Modern Family was really funny again.

Carol said...

I keep reading that Iphone track our whereabouts. Hey..I have nothing to hide and I have a pretty limited range..work..homes..and Walmart.

Carol said...

I finished early and so my retreat starts early. Whoppee.

Jan, last night when Jacob Lusk was singing, early in the song, he paused and had a shocked look on his face and then started back. The judges were acting like he was having an emotional meltdown because of the song and they didn't give him an opportunity to explain.

I knew that wasn't the explanation from the expression on his face and he mentioned briefly later that he had some drum track playing in his ear. If you noticed, he pulled that ear piece out of his ear really fast.

I read on this AI blog that I follow where they were asking if it was an AI technical accident or sabatage. That certainly could have screwed Jacob in the voting. If it does, it isn't fair.

jan said...

I only voted X2 -After voting those 2 times, I would get a message that all circuits were busy. I kept trying for one hour and then gave up.

jan said...

Yes, Modern family was one of the funniest. I love that show. Wish there were more like it. Great writers.

jan said...

"wouldn't having no chance of an afterlife kinda make being a minister inconsequential? Ponder that. What do you think?"

My response Carol is that I think what ministers/priests/clergy do is to minister to people "in the now" John is not an Evangelical minister. Evangelical ministers think their purpose is to save people from hell. John ministers to people where they are while living. I believe that our heaven or hell is right here at the time we are living on this earth. We can choose to make it either one.

jan said...

I grew up in an Evangelical church and spent more time on a church bench than my own bed. I fell asleep hearing preachers talk about how we were all going to hell if we did certain things. I had many nightmares about this. What turned me around in my own thinking is a little book by Victor Frankl titled "Man's Search for Meaning." The book was about his experiences in a concentration camp in Germany during WWII. Despite the horrible experiences these people had, they did not lose their faith. A forward in this little book (not written by Frankl) said something like, "even in the worst of times, we have a choice as to the attitude we take in any given circumstance." That is paraphrasing, I am sure - but that is the meaning of what was said.

jan said...

Carol, I need God too. Just because I don't know for sure if there is an afterlife, does not mean I don't believe in God. I just don't buy all the dogma that the Christian church puts out. I also believe that Christianity is not the only way to God. I think the Jews, and Hindus, and Buddhists, and Islamists also have their ways to God too. I have not studied the world religions, but I think there are lots of ways to God and my way is not the only way. I am still struggling with what "my way" is.

jan said...

Carol, another thing that has turned me around in my thinking about these things is that my mother was raised by her father's parents until she was 12. Her grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Germany and they brought her up in their faith and traditions. When she was 12 she was sent to live with her mother's sister (they were Christian) and she accepted the Christian faith but while growing up, she told us often, "Don't forget that you are also Jews." When my mother died 27 years ago, my sister began a study of the Jewish faith and converted to Judaism and raised her 2 youngest children in the Jewish faith. She has spent many hours telling me about the faith and wanting me to convert also. I have chosen not to do that. But I feel torn, partly because of this. My sis and I have been very close. According to my sister, Jews don't believe in an afterlife, and I suppose that might have influenced my thinking.

jan said...

Well, I have run on about this too much, I am sure. It is interesting how Passover and Easter and then Christmas and Hannakah - happen about the same time. I suppose we begin pondering these issues during these times.

I look forward to reading all of your views on these things.

jan said...

Carol, enjoy your 4 wonderful days off work.

Carol said...

Jews do believe in an afterlife, but it's different. I read a little about it and will check out more later. I'd be real disappointed to think this is all there is not that I'm not satisfied with life here.

I think if everyone thought that this is it..this world might be a lot more chaotic.

Carol said...

I have to go to this CEU thing tonight. No good food though. We can no longer have fancy food, financed by drug cos, when we have CEUs.

Carol said...

I just got home. I thought that Idol started at 8 but it started at 7. I can't record it because greedy Fox won't make a deal with Dish Network.

I did find out who got the boot. Not a surprise but I'm gonna be disappointed with each would gets the boot from now on. I guess I'll wait until Jan finds out. It wasn't so bad that I couldn't watch since ya'll know I don't like the heartbreak of defeat.

Carol said...

I was happy to see that neither one of the girls went down tonight. I guess I saved them with all my votes for them. Had to try to counter all those teeny bopper girl votes.

Coreen said...

You are really a softy...Didn't watch it, but I know who they booted...

You didn't tell me that Pia was on last night
for some reason & that Mark Ballas was in the
audience...I saw it on the local NY news this
a.m.

By the way, the sun came out but it was so
windy all day...only in the 50s still....rain
on the way in...

Coreen said...

Oh, & today the pink & lavender flowering trees
started to bloom here...Spring really is getting close...

Carol said...

It was stifling here today Coreen but I'd prefer that to 50s. Ask me again in a couple of months. We'll need those snow pics again then.

Coreen said...

Heard this on the radio on the way home tonite...& it was on the local NY news...

It's a happy ending cat story...

Calico cat swims to Governors Island

Coreen said...

Honestly 50s is pretty nice if the sun is out & its not windy...

Was it humid too, must be at 85, hot is hot...

Coreen said...

I'm hoping we have a cool summer...last year was too hot & too humid here...hated it...

Carol said...

Cool cat story Coreen. Cats have a way of surviving.

Carol said...

Still have Fiddler at the house and another cat has been hanging out there for a good while. It's a red male and I call him Red. Then a couple of days, I saw another cat. I assume I won't have a mouse problem over there. I go everyday to check on things..get my mail and feed the flock.

My roomy did move out a couple of weeks ago and my secretary started painting last weekend. Don't be too surprised if I don't sell the place. We've been friends for too long and I do love that place. She's paid for.

Solar said...

"I want a cool summer, I want lots, and lots of pretty flowers, I wanna-dance the night away"

I want, I want,.....hey I thought that all you pinks liked me for my mind.....it's for my foots??? hope to have a little time tomorrow and see what u all have been up to.....besides dws, it's all a gimmick U know?......

Carol said...

Solar..where have you been when we needed a partner?? Hope staying busy with good things.

Coreen said...

Glad to know that Fiddler is still around...unfortunately there are so many outside cats, some feral, that it does become
difficult to care for them...

And even happier to know that you were able
to get your roomie out w/o much difficulty...

If you can manage both homes for awhile, that's
ok, but if the opportunity comes to sell it, I'm sure you will know what to do...

It's hard enough keeping up one home...both
physically as well as economically...

Coreen said...

Are you planning anything for your 4-day weekend...

Here, it will be a quiet weekend...

Carol said...

I'm gonna slowly work on it but still have to have a place to go when the water rises. This is still a camp..I just haven't finished with that Easter weekend vacation I came for two years ago. Can you believe that this weekend is my two year anniversary of my coming for the Easter weekend.

Carol said...

I think it's gonna be a big weekend out here. I saw lots of campers that are parked around. They were already out water skiing. I don't have anything planned yet except just relaxing and playing outside.

Solar said...

Carol,

Once and for all>>>>>>> If there were a God, he, she, it or what .....would be inconceivable, that is we would never be able to conceive the real he/she/it, since he would be so inconceivable to our little ape minds...and we did evolve from apes no?

If Im correct the word God it's self should tell us how inconceivable it is to conceive God.......The world God means ....infinite....and infinite can not be conceived....is it when the universe stops expanding on itself? or is it something else....we can not know how long infinite is.......ok im out of time....later :-))

By the way Jan has it about right......if there is a god.....some place to go to after we die....( not me, just burn me up in the skies...and let me wander) we would be able to get there from any place that we were at...any religion, any way of getting to t he after life.....one way is as good as the rest.......but there is none......so make the best of it now.!!!........

Carol said...

I do think we all part of God. I do think that we..as spirits..live on. Not sure how..where..but we do continue to exist..maybe in a parellel universe.

Solar said...

Oooops forgot....yes we do live on.....we live on when that next baby is born to die when it's his/hers turn to burn up....like the good little stars that they are....basically we are just tubes that create other tubes, that create other tubes.....all life is exactly that....never stops, and one form of tube will always be around.....maybe the last one standing.....it god?....

jan said...

Hi Solar. Good to see ya.

Like I said before, I am still struggling with what I believe. I want to believe there is something after death.

Carol, I agree, where do those orbs come from. what about all the life after death stories?

jan said...

Went to son Bill's house for dinner. Taped Idol and watching it now. Jacob and Stephano are sitting on the couch. So glad the girls are both safe. Jennifer may also have influenced the TV audience - she has said now 2-3 times that she does not want to see either of the girls go now.

jan said...

Carol, I hope there is something like a parallel universe.

jan said...

I too am glad Fiddler is still around.

jan said...

Coreen, I would prefer temps in the 50's or 60's as long as there is sunshine and no wind. I consider that perfect weather.

jan said...

Chloe, Where are you???

jan said...

I had a great day today. I got all my work hours in on Mon-wed. I had the day off. I got my hair cut. I go to Super Cuts. I have a great hair cutter there that I really like. She gives me a great head massage when she shampoos my hair. After that, I went down the road and got a pedicure. I got my foot and lower leg massage and fell asleep in the chair - I mean sound asleep.

jan said...

Ok, Stephano is going home. Not a big surprise.

jan said...

James looks like he could cry. This group looks like they have become very close.

James came up behind him and picked him up and hugged him.

I am teary. I love this group of kids.

jan said...

Stephano sang his last song - beautifully!

jan said...

I love the fact that all of the last 11 will be going on tour together this summer. That really makes it easier to see each one go.

jan said...

Carol, sounds like you are happy to have your house back.

jan said...

Vamos a la cama. ( going to bed).

Carol said...

I woke up a little early..earlier than usual. No biggy when I have 4 days off and can nap any old time. Some people sleep more when they have time off..I think..I want to enjoy every moment. Yeah.

Jan..after reading what you wrote about AI..I had to go check it out online and I'm crying. Ya'll know I loved little Stephano. Like a mama would. I believed in him from the start. Then when James lost it..I lost it. Stephano was a precious one and he will be alright.

I may want to have to do something every Thursday night from now on.

When Stephano was standing up there again..in the loser group..I thought..well..at least he won't have to go thru that again. I think Stephano might agree. That can't be good for a person's psyche..having to stand up there each week waiting to know if you are the big loser.

Carol said...

I don't think Idol will ever be as good..for me.. as this season has been. Like I told ya'll I tried but never really got into it before. The kids this season stole my heart.

Carol said...

I heard them say that next week they are doing the songs of Carole King. I'm looking forward to that. She was popular when we were in college Jan. I feel the earth move..under my feet..I feel the sky tumbling down....

She was one of those folkes singers. I love folk music. I'm still waiting for my 6 CD set of Folk songs that PBS promised me when I gave my annual donation. They tried to send me classical music and piana solos but I sent them back..I want my Folk CDs. I've called and emailed and they keep promising to send it but so far..nada.

Carol said...

Happy Earth Day everyone.

This earth is one reason that I'm certain that there is a God. Life is just too amazing for this to be just a big accident. I don't think that God is responsible for what goes on down here..well maybe.. because we are.. and if we are all manifestations of God..then maybe so.

Anonymous said...

Coreen, glad to see you've happily begun to see your first signs of Spring. It was good to see your post and pictures. I hope you show us more.

Saw your follow-up comment about more blooming. Yellow, pink and lavender - all colors I love. But then, it's hard to think of any flower (regardless of color) that isn't beautiful. Yellow is my favorite color (not in clothes or cars though!). Yellow daisies ... my favorite flower - but then, I love them all.

Anonymous said...

I've been keeping up with the posts and enjoying the conversation, but have been in more of an escapism mood, watching movies and such. Probably partly because I have so many things I need to be catching up on -- and they seem to be piling up. I did begin yesterday morning to make some comments here, but right in the middle of the first one things started happening here and I had to discontinue in the middle of the first comment. By the end of the day, I had lost most of what I was going to say.

Now today, Emma is off school for a long weekend like most of you, so I'll have very little time to think. I will be taking some pictures of her and will post them in a few. She had two Easter parties and Easter Egg Hunts this week at school (two different days because some kids only go two or three days a week). She got plenty of Candy there, so we'll go light on the Easter Basket Candy and fill it more with little gifts. Don't want her to ever become a sugar junkie like me.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I read about the fires here like everyone else, but have seen no evidence of one anywhere. It's odd that I haven't noticed a drought - usually I'd be complaining (you know how I love rain). Maybe it's because we'll get little bits now and then. A slight chance of rain for the first half of next week expected. Meantime, things are so green here where we live right now, you'd never know there was a lack of water.

It must be those deep roots you were talking about a short while back Carol. :) Remember?

Anonymous said...

We'll be going out for our Easter meal (mid-day- as always). Heaven forbid I should have to cook! I figure I've paid my dues with all the cooking I've done throughout my life, and now I just enjoy eating others people's cooking more than my own.

We're either going to the unbelievably delicious and hug Landry's Easter buffet, or to the Cheese Cake Factory, whose food is every bit as good (not a buffet this year). Neither place is taking reservations, so we're hoping the crowd isn't of big.

Anonymous said...

Good to see you were here Solar. Miss hearing your take on the events going on in the world.

I often depend on you guys to keep me informed of the most important things. Although I must say, that I find the happenings in your personal lives to be much more interesting than the politics that seem to dominate the news.

Hoping things ease up this weekend. Hate it when I don't have a good dose of time to just sit and think.

Anonymous said...

Carol - one other thing that I find very pleasant is how much better you seem to feel in the warm weather than you do during the winter months (I know the feeling!). It's been striking.

Anonymous said...

.... maybe it's also because you feel like you've taken back more control over your life too. Happy that SF is settled in, and to have the house you love back to yourself.

I did read the Scottie blog, and was glad I did (as usual). I know all about dumped animals, that's where many of ours have come from. We had a small pregnant cat dumped here about a month ago, and before we could get her to trust us enough to catch her and put her in a safe room we have set up, she had the kittens (I think under the house). Now I'm worried about them (but haven't seen or heard them yet). She comes out once a day at the evening feeding time.

We'll have to catch her, before we even think about catching the kittens, and that's going to be difficult. Then she'll need to be spayed once they're weened. It just gets harder and harder to accomplish these things. It's so sad what people do to these animals.

Anonymous said...

Have a good day everyone!

Anonymous said...

.. sorry about all the typos. Can't seem to think and type at the same time today. As always, please replace inappropriate words with the one that makes sense. My fingers have mind of their own.

Anonymous said...

Jan -- forgot to mention how great it is that you worked out your schedule for such a long weekend. Hope it's a great one for you and John.

Are you cooking?

Carol said...

Chloe, it's nice to see you back. I love it when I get up..for the second time. and have something to read. I can't wait for the Emma pics. You sure you don't already have some? Sounds like there were more than a few opportunities.. that you just mentioned.. for some pics. You know you CAN put up several posts. I think you are behind now.

Carol said...

Don't worry about your typos. I quit worrying about mine. I keep finding that I have used some crazy wrong word all the time. I guess it is my aging brain and poor attention span. But I'm not going to worry about it.

Carol said...

And yes..my mental attitude has done a 360. Fall always sets me off in a down mode then there was my 60th BD. That didn't help and then SF..that didn't help and then all those little things piled on top of that. I got thru it.

I don't think my house had anything to do with it. The arrangement did work out for a while. It just started to go south. I started to notice that if I needed to move back in..in a hurry..that there was nowhere for me to even put a toothbrush. I left half the place filled..that was part of the deal..but she had enough stuff for a full place. She really needed her own full place.

I also thought that she would be saving money but she just learned to spend more. I guess that is the way it is with most people.

Carol said...

And lately things just seem to be falling into place. I really didn't do anything to make it happen..it just has been happening. The Universe provides those times of challenge and times of reward. I just hold on tight when those times of challenge come around and know that there will be coming up..those times of reward. It's called life.

Coreen said...

Good morning...

Nice to see a Solar appearance if only briefly...

Seems to be the start of a peaceful weekend for
all...hope it stays that way...

Chloe, I would also like to see some updates
of how Em is growing up...

Coreen said...

..."also thought that she would be saving money but she just learned to spend more. I guess that is the way it is with most people"...

That is a common occurence among debtors...when they fall behind on mtge payments & no longer make any credit card payments, often they still don't have any money
to get back on track...mostly because their
debt is so much more than their take home pay...

Now you may wonder how people get in that situation, probably a combination of not learning how to budget what they have, together with easy credit terms aimed at allowing one to over extend, then making it seem so easy to just pay a minimum payment &
the idea that one can have anything one wants
regardless of ability to pay for it...

Still don't know if that attitude has turned around, suspect it hasn't, just that the bite that gas prices, escalating food costs have now resulted in less other spending...

Carol said...

New temporary post. Just to warm a spot for the Chloster until we get those Emma pics.

Carol said...

And Chloe, I suspect you might already have some of those school party pics and we are expecting those before the others. You know it only takes a few minutes to get them up. And I'm tapping my foot over here...waiting.