What I'm Learning

I've given up a few things for Lent.

Coffee. It was a rough few days at the beginning and the smell as someone makes it every morning in my office is very alluring but I'm over the headaches and plowing through.

Craft and art supply buying. I have so much crap. Seriously. I didn't have any of this except for the beading supplies. And the paints and pencils and paper before I got my own place. Now I have this amazing stock of fabric and batting and thread and embroidery thread and things to embroider and... And I keep buying more. It's ridiculous and I need to stop. In fact, I need to get rid of a lot of it. I have so much that I don't know what I have and that is not a good situation. I'm hoping to gain a better understanding and appreciation of what I do have and what should be tossed and kept during this time. I think life is like that a lot. We don't know what sort of baggage we carry about until we inventory it. There are things that should continue to be carried and there are burdens that we should be able to let go.

Thrifting. Back during the Christmas season I was talking with some friends about these tinsel wreaths that I was very tempted to buy at Target. They came in colors like silver and bright pink - perfect for matching my new tree and decorations. But I didn't buy them because I didn't want to spend the money. People, these wreaths were two, maybe three, dollars a piece. One friend piped in and said "So you won't spend money on these wreaths that will match your new Christmas stuff but you will spend money at the thrift store on all those other things." Her point really hit home. I could buy old, used stuff that someone else had discarded. Stuff that I really don't need. But getting something new and economical was not really up for discussion. It has made me think. Certainly, I like a good bargain. But am I using that time at the thrift store wisely? Is it just filling a hole of boredom? Am I going to end up like one of those people featured on "Hoarders" who shop for the rush they get when they gotten a good deal and end up filling their house with stuff that doesn't mean much?

Certainly there's a theme here of needing to simplify and have less clutter in my life. And knowing and appreciating what I do have. I can't take it with me.

Has it only been an week? I don't know how much more self-revelation I can take...

remember this

All of us are mortal.
From dust we came.
To dust we will return.

Show Off

Don't you think it's a little too much for this type of sunset to show up on Valentine's Day?
I was leaving church when I saw this. I stopped as quick as I could to soak it all in.

Happy Day!

Love those around you today.

I love the winters

It's snowing. Finally. A nice big snow. Not a weatherman induced panic for 3 inches of snow. But an honest to goodness winter storm warning lasting about 36 hours with an expected 12 inches or so. This winter has been blissfully, if boringly, uneventful here in Chicago. I love winter in Chicago. I love walking in the snow (most times) and probably look like an idiot as I tromp about with a grin on my face.

In fact, I need to walk down to the library. Perhaps I'll take a break and do that.

I visited the beach Sunday afternoon. I hadn't been in ages and I was blown away by how far the lake was frozen.

It just hurts my heart a little to drive away

I took the day off of work yesterday to head to a neighboring state and see some friends. They are lovely, are they not?I can't wait until the summer when they'll be a little closer.

Also, H & I got these:
Then we decided to get drinks. There was a piano bar next door and it was apparently lady's night (ladies night?). Considering that here in Chicago a martini can cost between 7 and 12 dollars, $4 was kind of awesome.

I will warn you though that cleaning one's nostril of dried clumps of blood the morning after is not the best part.

Wordless Wednesday

The Games We Play

Every morning before I leave for work I have a quick go round with one of my cats. Unfortunately, I think he's doing it on purpose because I'm rewarding his bad behavior. Leo runs to the bedroom window and hides behind the curtain. In a few moments he peeks around the corner and sits there, staring at me. See, the cats are banned from the bedroom while I'm gone. It just makes life better if I don't have to deal with cat hoark on the sheets right as I plan on getting into bed. He knows that I want him out of there. The first few times he did his little hiding by the window trick I lured him out with cat treats. Now I think he does it because he expects a treat for being obstinate.

I'm going to be a terrible mom.