White Noise - Literally

Ever since college, maybe even before, I have been used to sleeping with white noise of some sort. In college, I used it to block out roommate noise, and just got addicted. Back more than 20 years ago, I used a Norelco air filter designed to remove smoke from the air. (Anyone remember those?) Eventually, I moved on to a sound machine that has multiple options for soothing sounds like rain, wind, ocean, birds...etc.

Over the years, I have worn out a few of them, and Casey and I managed to get the kids addicted too, trying to keep the kids' rooms relatively quiet from the wandering cats and dogs. I suspect that Casey is happy to not have to sleep with the constant noise anymore, but me, I love it!

Even in my nomad existence, I carry a sound machine with me. It is soothing and helps me sleep. After all these years of being used to white noise, trying to sleep without it can be challenging. I notice all the creaks, drips and various pet noises without it. With it, I sleep soundly.

I noticed I have not been sleeping well the past several nights, and just realized it may have something to do with the fact I have not had my sound machine on. My brain may be missing the constant buzz that blocks out the nighttime noises.

The white noise machines are generally on sale all over the place at Christmas time, but can also be found in the drug or electronics section of variety stores. The selection is usually less though. I am quite interested in the fancy ones now that have a clock and even a "sunrise" light on them so your room slowly brightens in the morning with your alarm. I may need to get one of those the next time my machine stops working.

Avatar - A Remarkable Experience

Has anyone out there not seen Avatar? If you have not, you must. If you still have the option to see it on the big screen, do it. Even better - if it is in 3D anywhere - see it that way. What an incredible experience seeing this beautiful, touching movie in 3D on the big screen.

These days, so many people have big, flat screen tvs with surround sound, maybe you can almost get a theatre experience at home. I hope so. This is one worth having.

OK, so the photo I chose to represent the movie is not really what the movie is all about. Sometimes, I choose photos just to make myself happy, and Michelle Rodriguez playing a hot-shot helicopter pilot definitely made me happy! *grin*

OK, got that out of the way. Now I will say that this is an amazing story of the beautiful way that all of life is connected and how love and compassion can cross barriers we may not have thought possible. It is about an ex-marine who learns to operate an "avatar," which is like an alien double of himself, in order to fit in with a local culture on a planet rich with a substance that humans want to exploit. He learns of their culture, their way of life, their planet, and more about himself than he ever bargained for.

I'm a bit too jacked up on coffee and the excitement of the day to go into the depth of description that this story truly deserves. I will say, buy it. Avatar is on sale all over the place now. It is going to be a classic and deserves to be watched over and over, not just for the cinematic beauty, but for the depth of the well-crafted, heartfelt storylines. Simply amazing.

A Moment of Reflection

Next week I will turn 44. I graduated from law school almost a year ago. My children are now 5 and 8 years old. My 15+ year marriage ended almost 5 months ago. These are realities in my life.

I have learned some valuable ways of coping with stress - walking instead of eating (I don't want to have to rely on curvatrim reviews to tell me which diet pill I need!), talking with friends, writing - even if it is just emails and personal journals. I am remembering more and more to enjoy the simply joys in life - my kids' laugher, a ladybug that we found on a Frisbee - and the beauty that is all around us - the way a tiny fern will grow right up out of the moss on a tree, a flower opening towards the sun. Life is good. I want to enjoy every moment I can.

Busy Busy Busy!

What a busy week! Work is busy; I have potentially gotten hooked up with a volunteer opportunity that combines tribal and energy law - exactly what I think I want; tomorrow is Take your Child to Work Day; my mom is having surgery for diverticulitis; the kids have Bingo night at the school; then Friday Kelton has a cultural parade that I want to go to....busy! The weekend has me going up to Seattle to pick up a friend at the airport, lunch with old high school friends, and then we'll see one of them in a theatre production that night. Next day - play all day in Seattle!

I suspect by Sunday night when I look in the mirror, I will be wondering if actifade would help with the dark circles under my eyes! Not that I am complaining. I enjoy being active, having lots going on, and am completely looking forward to seeing my friends this weekend! Bring it on!

Natural High

After work yesterday, I drove over to a beautiful 645-acre nature area near my old law school.(Yes..."old"....from way back last year!) I changed out of my work clothes into some comfy jeans with a hole in the knee and an old T-shirt, and took off walking. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day and the woods were alive with spring. Trilliums were blooming, birds were singing, ferns were unfolding...it was incredibly peaceful..and energizing.

I took a few pictures from my camera phone. Some are on my FB page already, and here are a few others:




Happy Spring Everyone!

Happy Birthday To Boy Wonder!

Kelton turns 8 today! Wow! The time has flown by....no longer my baby boy, my silly toddler, my creative kindergartener....he is really a boy in all his brilliant, exasperating, energetic, challending, charming wonderfulness.

Happy Birthday, My Son. You are something your other mom and I certainly got right!

Happy Friday!

I see I have been rather neglectful of my blog this week. Some weeks are like that. I have been busy spinning my wheels, trying to get out of the mud and make forward progress on the job hunt/networking front. What else - random stuff:

- Planning and shopping for Boy Wonder's 8th Birthday! His celebration with my side of the family is this Sunday. He will share his party with a cousin who is turning 9. It is so sweet that they enjoy sharing their party.

- Dealing with the usual family stuff that comes up - kid-drama, Casey and I still working out logistics, dog craziness ("my" dog and Casey make each other nuts)...etc. I SO need a place of my own. It will happen. I am learning much through this transition - being grateful for the friends and family that have opened their lives to me, taking in the the sights, people and opportunities I would never have noticed otherwise; living in the moment.

- Really taking time to think and feel deeply - and to know when not to. I have often been told I need to get out of my own head and not overthink things. That is sometimes true and sometimes not. I am learning to tell the difference.

Life is good. Be happy!

Easter Time!

The kids were so excited to decorate eggs! I don't know how many times I was asked, "Is it time, yet?" First, the answer was, "No, honey, the eggs are not even boiled, yet!"

Yesterday afternoon, I took the kids to see to see "Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel." It is Kelton's Spring Break and I had told him I would take an afternoon off to go do something fun. We did the movie, which they both loved - and I enjoyed,too - and then went home to do egg decorating. They were careful (relatively) with the colors, not spilling or blending until the end, and LOVED doing the "shrink wrap" wrappers using a hair dryer to melt the plastic. I had only used boiling water, so this was fun. They held the dryer while Mom risked burning her fingers! *grin* A good time was had by all!

HAPPY EASTER!