Monday, September 13, 2010

Beware of Flashers


I had an amusing drive to work the other day.  The cop several cars in front of me wreaked havoc by leaving on his vehicle flashers.

Have you ever been a tad annoyed when the person in front of you forgets to turn off their turn signal? At every street you slow down in anticipation of their sudden turn.This was like that, and on a grand scale!

First the driver of a semi truck pulled into a gas station thinking he was being pulled over.  He found a way to park in the small station lot, got out of his truck, waited for the cop, hopped on his cell phone and started pacing. The cop just drove coolly through the intersection (flashing all along) and kept going.  Poor semi driver!

Then, at an intersection, the traffic lights were acting strange as they are set to be timed with the flashing cop car lights. Drivers were confused and didn't want to get ahead of the police vehicle, so we sat at the light and waited. . . and waited some more. . . . you get the idea.

Finally we're all following this fellow like a funeral procession, and perhaps he doesn't get why people in front of him are slowly turning off onto side streets, and I'm just about at the street where I turn off at work, (perhaps 2 or 3 miles down the road, which runs through a residential area - it really was a slow ride) he figures it out.

Poor fellow. I'm guessing he received more grief at the police station than I did when I walked in to work five minutes late.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Green Thumb Not Required

Please note: This is not a scientific article – in fact, it falls in that category of  “I think it therefore it’s true."

Shortly after my mom died, my dad took a look at her Christmas Cactus, which had graced our home for as long as I could remember, and said, "I suppose we should throw this away - I don't know what to do with it." Well. . . this seemed like a sad idea, and the plant was in great health and had what seemed to be a perfect plant home on a nice windowsill with just the right amount of light. I suggested that maybe between the two of us we could give it some water on occasion and see how it would do. My father wasn't so optimistic about his ability to be left alone with a plant and have it not die. As he put it, "your mother always kept these alive, I've never done anything with a plant."

Well. . . that plant made a go of it for years. I eventually gave it to one of our neighbors when my dad moved out of his own apartment. It made a go of it without being regularly watered. It didn’t get a lot of attention, I could go on and on about the things that plant didn't get. What did it have? Great genetics. It was a hearty plant, and came into our lives after years of living with someone who had “a green thumb. “ While my dad wasn’t a “plant guy” or any sort of gardener, he managed to enjoy that plant, and see it bloom, for a number of years.
 
This morning I asked a co-worker if I could take a cut from his spider plant in order to start a new one. The plant is impressive. It's green, spilling over his desk, and seems to have great pep. He was more than happy to let me have a clipping and informed me that he got it from another woman in our department who is known for having an amazing garden and happy plants. As he said, "It's the best type of plant, I water it once a week and then leave it alone." He credited the original owner with the success of the plant.

Finally, a friend of mine came over when I moved into a new home. She brought three beautiful plants that she got from her sister who is a master gardener for a state known for it's beautiful plants and produce. Those three plants are thriving. They get very little attention, are regularly munched on by a cat, yet they bloom, and shine and keep growing.

I am convinced that a green thumb is not required. . . just good plant genetics and a bit of appreciation.

If you have a similar story feel free to share.  Perhaps the "real" green thumbs out there will rise up against my theory.

Friday, July 16, 2010

This Daily Inspiration Comes to You from Yoda ~ And My Brother


. . . do or do not, there is no try
Yoda

I put that quote on my tagline today.  A while after doing that, I realized it’s not too different from the one I’ve had on my work tagline for some time, “sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul,” Edward Abbey.

Living these quotes is sometimes a challenge, but I’m proud to have seen a great example of someone putting them into action today.

This morning .  .  . very, very, early this morning, my brother stood in a field with some spray paint.  He didn’t say he would “try” to get up. He just got up  . . . at 4 a.m.

He was there to make sure the labyrinth he was making would have perfect solar alignment.   The people who walk through it, or attend a workshop about its’ purpose and how it was made, will be able to appreciate the fact that it faces perfect East. 

When he first told me of this plan, I had a moment where I thought, why not sleep in and have it facing a more ‘general’ East direction?  Then I reconsidered.  What if the Native Americans had decided to sleep in when they needed to draw a line through a petroglyph marking a new year? Or the ancient mariners had been given inaccurate coordinates or charts when someone failed to record a sunrise or sunset?

While I rely on my digital clock, gps unit, and phone that changes time zones whenever I drive across an invisible line, there is still something comforting about good, old-fashioned, orienteering.

There are so many things that I’m thankful people just do.  There is no try.
The beautiful end result

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Monty Python meets The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

I had a fun moment at work this morning. I pulled an audio cassette of  C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters for a patron.  The reader for this particular edition was none other than John Cleese, well known for his roles in Monty Python, A Fish Called Wanda, and the popular British sitcom Fawlty Towers.

At first I thought this seemed like an odd match.  I had a vision of the serious Oxford Don disapproving of the popular and irreverent comedian. With a little further research, it seems like less of a stretch, if not a good fit.

Both men are creative, educated, educators who have led unusual lives and entertained many by sharing moments of humor, pain, and grace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cleese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.S._Lewis

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Happy Lent! Sacrifice 2010 = Down Time!

This year I have the goal of giving up being passive. Instead, I plan to be proactive by doing at least one thing per day to improve my health or my home. I was going to give up laziness, and am happy to report that my girlfriend felt passive was a better term - she doesn't see me as being "lazy."

This year is filled with much less angst than the past few. And the idea of giving up judgement isn't even going to enter my mind - I've failed at that too many times, and practice giving up judgement over. . .and over. . . and over!

What am I really giving up this year? A few minutes of "down time."

What will I gain? The benefits could be great: better discipline, a healthier me, having a cleaner, better cleared out home.

Last year a pastor friend of mine gave some good feedback and her theology for NOT giving something up for lent. I totally buy into her theory. But because it's a cultural tradition I keep to - and it often leads to some good - I'll join the throngs of Christians who give up something this time of year. And, regardless of Jesus' approval or disapproval of this activity - it will make for a happier me - and I'm guessing those around me!