This Wondrous Autumn

Amazing...absolutely amazing. The autumn of '10 had all the symptoms of the perfect storm. An unseasonably hot and humid September, little or no rain, little hope of a colorful foliage season.

And then along came October.


It has been atypical and totally beautiful. And 19 percent humidity in southern Indiana? Wow! So this is what California coastal weather feels like. Cool, dry mornings to sit out and have that first cup of coffee. Warm mid-day with a nice breeze for drying clothes on the line. Cool, dry evenings to sit out and enjoy the last light of the evening with a good glass of wine or a warm cup of tea.

I do have concerns about the pond as I see it getting more and more shallow. But I do know that the rains will come...it is Southern Indiana. And, when they do, we will welcome them.

But, in the meantime, take the time to walk, enjoy the foliage, crunch through the leaves...happy autumn.

My First Computer Repair Job--Kinda

One of my 50 adventures at 50 involved learning enough about computers to be able to make simple repairs. My chance came the other day when my brother called with a virus that was a real doozy. I went over to his house, picked up the cpu and then, with #1 son's help and tutorial skills, I was able to learn how to seek out and kill the viruses that had taken over his hard drive, install some neat stuff and then make it pretty and usable for him once again. It was great fun! Working with Kurt and learning new skills (God bless his patience) was enlightening to say the least. Seeing the enjoyment from brother's reaction to having his computer back up and good as new was a delight.

Brother was extremely generous and paid me for my work, which wasn't at all necessary. As a result, we decided I would take it on the condition that it would become a donation to Heifer International, my most favorite charity. As a result of our deal, we purchased some chicks, geese, rabbits, and bees for people who will now have a better chance at a better life. I LOVE the common sense philosophy and the great work they do at Heifer.

Oh...and I did get the website started! It will be in constant change, so feel free to visit from time to time...I named it "Tina's Busy Brain"--surprised?

I'm going to count that as a check off my 50 adventures list--what's next? Stay tuned!

Happy October!

Happy October to you! What a lovely time of year it is. There's still heat in the sun during the daytime hours so we can catch some warmth during lunchtime; there is a slight chill to the air in the morning and evening hours that allows us to turn off all heat/air conditioning and throw open the windows. Just as with the first warmth of the spring days when we start to see signs of green returning to our surroundings, we're very close to nature during these mild days. God blesses us well during this sapphire blue-skied and temperate season.

And today we had an additional blessing...rain. RAIN! Oh how that sound made us smile.

One month ago, I gave myself a month to figure out a website. Didn't make it completely, but I am getting close. Just a few more adjustments and it will be ready to go. So...maybe by MID October I'll have it finished. It's great fun trying and learning as I go along. For any of you wanting to explore in different arenas of technology or creativity in general, don't hesitate. You really can't tear it up, no matter what IT is. And if you do mess up a bit, so what...you're getting better!

New month...new adventures...have fun!

I Think I'll Just Write a Book

I need to go back to school--within the next four years, that is. In continuing education speak, that means I need six hours of masters or higher credit to maintain my license in administration. I'm an old enough dog that my teaching license is a life license--as long as I have life, I have a license. Not so with administration--by the time I decided to go down that road, the rules had changed; actually, I think for the better. We need to keep pushing ourselves to learn new material in our chosen field. And even though my chosen field is no longer administration, I have an enormous soft spot for education. It's just pretty much who I am at heart. I learn--I teach. So, I think I'll just write a book. If I'm going to go back to school, I'm at the magical age that it's going to have to be worthwhile.

Writing the blogs has been a terrific exercise for me to get back into shape in playing with words and language. I've always enjoyed writing on different levels. At one time I even wrote a children's book and a very talented young man created some outstanding illustrations to further tell its story. And, as with most books, it was soundly rejected. I still have it; maybe someday I'll turn it into a virtual book. There are always options.

Ideas have been swimming about in my brain over the past couple of years in regard to the state of education. I don't want to research and write a book that complains and states the obvious. I want to research and write a book that will perhaps, in some small way, help change come about in a futuristic and positive way. More kids will be taught and taught well; more communities can claim their former life and vibrancy; teachers can get excited again about their craft. That's my hope.

So, tonight I started by scribbling some ideas down in my trusty tattered little book of thoughts. I think I have a plan. I also think I just gave myself a terrific challenge. That's what adventure is all about, right? Stay tuned...

The Last Pair of Hummingbirds

I'm sitting here on a picture-perfect September evening watching as the last pair of hummingbirds are doing  their acrobatics for their pleasure and certainly mine. I've watched as the numbers have dwindled down from eight at our height of the season and entertainment to this single pair. They have the same sprightliness about them, but the whole atmosphere is somewhat subdued. They're not flying nearly as much or chirping nearly as much as they do when the gang is all in attendance. I figure it's just a matter of time--probably days--until I walk out onto the deck and it will be motionless around the feeder. Ah, change...not always what we like, but inevitable.

Nevertheless, the same forces that cause the hummingbirds to fly to different locales this time of year are mighty refreshing to the human species. Sitting here writing, I could almost use a long-sleeved shirt; just about time to get out my trusty denim and then flannel shirts. Ah, change.

The days are certainly growing shorter as well. The luxury of sitting on the deck in the dusky hours between eight and nine and writing are now nearly an impossibility. When the daylight hours go away so much more quickly and show up in the mornings so much more slowly, it's difficult to get that last cup of tea scheduled in while pondering the day's events. Ah, change.

But now, as I look back into the house, I see a coziness that is missing in the heat of the summer months. The pressed coffee I just brought out to the deck for Tom and me to enjoy just tastes better on a cooler evening. Seeing the slow, transitioning sunrises always brings a smile to the heart and to the eyes.

Ah, change. 

One of THOSE Days

I didn't think today was one of THOSE days until I started reviewing in my head all the events that transpired. When I woke up, all seemed quite normal. Then, around 9:45, I lost my internet connection. No big deal unless your office and work is dependent up those internets...as I am. I busied myself doing some other projects and then called the Internet provider. They agreed that I had no signal...always good to get validation. We discussed that it was probably time for an antenna upgrade. I'm officially on the list. Fortunately, around 12:45, the signal popped back up as if nothing had happened. So, I continued on.

During lunch, I decided to pressure some beef short ribs, since they are notoriously tough. All was well until it sounded as though a shotgun went off in the kitchen. When I raced in to see what caused the noise, I noticed that the little rubber pressure knob had shot straight up into the range hood and came back down on the hot burner, leaving only a trace of a perfect circle. When I found the little culprit, it looked as pristine as ever. Fortunately, no liquid or other oddities has escaped the pan. Crisis averted.

Once I got started back to work, I received a couple of phone calls that I thought later could've been answered by the machine--kind of time wasters. About a 7.5 on the annoyance scale.

My mom called and said she was unable to watch a dvd due to her dvd player not working. I suggested I go see about it once I did the weed trimming.  When I got to her house, I tried the dvd player and the only thing I was able to get it to do was give me a mild shock. Not achieving any success on that project, back home I went. As I was pulling the car into the garage, I heard an awful noise, like a cat that had been hit. I got the car shut down, went through the house, and peeked around the wall to check the concrete and expect the worst. No cat. No blood...whew. I walked around the house and did a quick head count and that's when I saw poor little Thor...it was him that I heard. I had trouble with him earlier wanting to hang around the weed eater while I was using it. I know--unbelievable. In the words of Hank Hill, "The boy just ain't right." I patted his head and then said a little prayer over him asking God to let him die peacefully--and at the second he popped up and started walking around...pretty wobbly, but walking for a time. Last time I checked on him, he was still among the living. If he lives through the night, I guess we can add "unsteady gait" to his list of maladies.

Once Tom arrived home, it was time to share all the interesting items of the day. Once I started reliving the day, I realized just how full and somewhat crazed it was. We decided it was time for a quiet supper and a good drink...it has a way of curing even one of THOSE days.

Life IS Change...Listen to the Wisdom

Today marks the anniversary of a day in our lives that turned everything we know and hold sacred wrong-side out. We have, over the years, grieved, feared, lashed out in anger, wept, and hopefully listened to the wisdom that any tragedy in our lives imparts. In listening to the wisdom, we have to move forward. Anger must cease; hatred must not take all our energies. We now realize that our country (nor we) are invincible; as a result, we can become wider in our scope of how to be a citizen of the world.

Most importantly, perhaps, is that we need to realize that there is good in all groups, creeds, religions. To mark this complicated time in history, I've started reading the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. This man chose to deal with the horrific events by building understanding as well as schools for the children of the Taliban, so they might have a life of pure learning, not patterned hatred.

Our greatest commandment is to "love one another"; we were never promised this would be easy. But then again, the easy road will never lead to wisdom.

Life IS change...listen to the wisdom.