appreciation Friday in five acts

Operation Consolidation is going swimmingly.
Remember a while back I said I was going to consolidate our lives to the main floor of the house?  Well, that project is pretty much complete.  I'm also happy that I was able to donate or sell a good portion of items, and our kids also each laid claim to a few things.

That's not to say that our lower level is entirely empty - I still have my desk where I tutor and (usually) blog from, and the laundry remains - but that's mainly because it would be an unnecessary pain to move those things.   I mainly wanted to downsize our stuff in preparation of downsizing our house.  And on that note,

I appreciate my flexible side gig and tutees
It's not easy to reenter the workforce after taking several years off to be a mom.  I'm grateful that I can still be productive and contribute while doing something I (typically) enjoy.  My students are diverse and unique, but enjoyable to work with.  Even that strange one who sometimes summons me for nothing is quite personable.

And online tuting has helped to expand my workload from the comfort of home where I only need to appear presentable from shoulders up.

Spring is coming
I know I've stated here, truthfully, that I like winter.  I appreciate winter.  I like having four seasons.  I'm ready to switch to the next one now, thanks.

A match made in geekdom
Last weekend, Magnum and I watched this quirky movie, "The Lobster".  Have you seen it?  We found it strange yet fun and entertaining.  There are tranquilizer guns that have a role in the movie, and when they first appeared, Magnum mildly commented, "Huh.  That's my gun".

Now, this isn't the first time this has happened while watching a movie.  And in saying "my" gun, it's not that Magnum owns that particular gun.  It's that he designed that particular gun.

Magnum is a design engineer.  Years ago, he worked for an airgun company.  A couple of his designs are *the* airgun to have for their particular applications - tranquilizing for instance... or Hollywood movies involving tranquilizer guns.  So sometimes his designs show up in movies or such.

Years ago, I used to be an engineer, but I can't say that I've noticed any of "my" products in movies or in the Olympics, etc.  As I think about it, I'm only reminded that I recently had a successful tutee end up with his mugshot on the news...

So a shout out to Magnum whom I met in enginerd school.  I'd thought he was a bit strange, and he is, but now look.  His name on several patents, while also a Hollywood star.

On that note
He also does our taxes.  Thank God.

nice guys?

Yesterday was a productive day.  Monday was yet another snowday, so not particularly productive, so it was good to get lots done yesterday.

In the aftermath of my productivity, I was chilling out at my desk and perusing some news headlines.

I came across a story of a local man who'd caused a traffic accident, left the scene of the accident, was tracked down by police who responded to the accident, was arrested for DUI and reckless driving, then attacked the police officers, thus adding "attempted assault on a peace officer" to his charges.

The story included a mugshot, and I was thinking, "Hmm, guy appears pretty clean cut.  He also looks a bit familiar..."  Then I read the perp's name, and wtf?  The dude was a past tutor student of mine, from about 5 years ago when he was a senior in high school.

This was quite surprising because I remember him as a good student, nice kid, and athlete who was being recruited by a few schools.  He worked hard, and his tutoring paid off.  He rode off into the sunset to a college athletic program in another state.

So what happened?  I'm hoping there are missing pieces to the story - like someone covertly slipped him some drugs unbeknownst to him, and he reacted badly.

I also read there are further revelations coming out about Chris Watts, the Colorado guy and supposedly doting husband and father who murdered his pregnant wife and two little daughters and tried to say they just disappeared.  Bleccch.  I soon decided to take a break from the news.

I got out for a nice trek with Penny.  Now that she's gotten the hang of going for walks, she absolutely LUVS 'em.  Despite her smallness, I have yet to reach her distance limit, but I'm guessing that it's farther than mine.

No more nice-guys-gone-bad stories for me for a while.  Bring on the sunshine and puppies!

fashion

A couple of days ago, the guy on the radio was asking trivia questions.  One was,

"What is the most valuable apparel brand in the world?"

In the world?  Most valuable?

This week's prompt at Illustration Friday is "Fashion", so my fashion-challenged self pondered what to depict.

The answer to the trivia question was Nike.  I wasn't too surprised, but I also don't know a whole lot about fashion, so thought it would be some brand - maybe from Italy or France - I'd never heard of, and certainly never worn.





But yes, Nike of course.  They produce more than just athletic wear (that consumers actually purchase for participation in athletics).  Whole "style" themed pages on social media - one was a source for me for this drawing - are dedicated to Nike clothing.

I dug a bit on the internet and found a list of the top ten from 2017.  One site wanted me to pay money to see the list for 2018, so this is good enough for free...

SOURCE

Okay, I've actually heard of most of these brands and have owned products from two of them.  I'm not familiar with Zara, number 3 on the list.  I highly doubt I'm in their target market.

I will mention that, during my extensive *ahem* research on this topic, I've learned the difference between "handbag", "purse", and "satchel"... sort of.

How important is brand to you when selecting clothes and accessories?  

thankfulness Thursday

I feel like it's time for a bit of update and thankfulness.

1.  It's  not freezing, currently.
It's a lovely morning with blue skies and mild temperatures.  We've had our share of snow and ice and cold and muck, which just makes me grateful for days like today in late February.  Not only is it nice to see the sun and spend comfortable time outside, it's nice for...

2. Getting fresh air on the pooch...

Penny the poochkin is about 6 months old now and a 20-pound powerhouse!  She's the smallest dog we've ever had, but don't be fooled by that little body!  So it's nice to get her outside so she can take me for a walk.  I'm really looking forward to taking her hiking once the trails are less muddy and she's gotten better at leash etiquette.  In the meantime...

3.  Potato training is going well too

The cat is an adept teacher.  He puts the "Nap" in Napolion.

4.  My wonderful, intelligent, polite, articulate tutees.

I have about ten students in my current "rotation", and with the exception of the strange mother/daughter thing I mentioned earlier, they're a nice bunch of hard working teens and young adults.  I realize that's been my typical experience, so a good bizarre situation serves as a reminder to be grateful.  

On that note, I did get a summons of sort this week from the bizarre one.  I was careful to ask for "evidence" of her needing a session - something I've NEVER requested before because it's a given, right??  I also asked that she cancel if things change - again, who needs to ask for this??

Later that evening, I got the follow-up cancellation.  Hallelujah.  Who knows what "switched around".  I'm starting to wonder if the mom was with her and told her to schedule when she initially texted, and then she cancelled later, in private.  

But who really knows?  It does serve as a reminder to appreciate the others!

And lastly, 

5.  More pet appreciation

Chaco and his girlfriend lost their dog, Calli.  ("lost" as in, she died).

Calli was a big beautiful Husky - the girlfriend's dog, and the two of them came as a package deal.  She'd had some recent health issues of which the vet hadn't pinned down the source, only ruled some things out.  Now, after the fact, it looks like she likely had a brain tumor 😢

So I'm grateful for pets in general and for getting to know Calli a little. She had a regalness about her, in that she seemed to know that she was a big, beautiful Husky, and we were honored by her presence.  Rest In Peace.

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Linking up again this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:

5. List your five most recent favorite things.

doing poorly

This week's prompt at Illustration  Friday is "Fairy Tale", so I drew this castle, thinking of those fairy tales that involve a castle involving some sweet virgin girl held captive in an inaccessible castle tower by some sinister being.  For example:  Rapunzel, and.... Rapunzel?  HELP ME OUT HERE.

Oh well, good enough, which brings me to today's topic.  I recently read a short article encouraging the art of doing things poorly.  The article was aimed at perfectionists or those with perfectionist tendencies.

I wouldn't say I'm a perfectionist.  No, I can think of examples where I've been perfectly happy with my own mediocrity.

Really, the gist of the article was to encourage at least doing something because something is better than nothing.  Perfectionists (apparently) typically take an all-or-nothing approach to activities, so if there's risk of failure, they won't even begin.

The article did not necessarily encourage this behavior where safety, etc. is concerned.  It was more about not getting down on ourselves for not feeling up to doing something we know we should do.

• Said you'd get up and run 5 miles but don't feel like it?  Go out and run or walk one mile. Or one block.
• Planned to declutter and organize your desk, but all those papers - ugh!  Clean out one drawer.
• Intended to cook a balanced, tasty meal but not feeling like shopping, etc?  Throw a chicken in the crock pot and call it good.
• And so on.

Monday, I went back to the gym since I lost that fight with the ground a couple weeks ago.  My shoulder and rib are much better, but not quite 100%.  I went to the gym and did a few things poorly, and it felt good.

Today, I will do other things.  I will do at least some of them poorly.  And I don't need to do much for dinner because there are leftovers from that chicken I threw in the crock pot earlier.

Putting anything off because the task seems too daunting?  
What's one thing you can do poorly today?

who are you?

Last weekend, Magnum and I watched the movie "Split".  For those unfamiliar with it, it involves a character with multiple personalities.  It's interesting and creepy.  I liked it, but on a side note, I have quite the celebrity crush on James McAvoy and will watch just about anything he's in.

Anyways, the story involves the multi-personalitied guy's benevolent therapist.  She begins receiving urgent emails from one of the personalities, Barry, wanting to set up extra therapy appointments.  Therapist sets up the appointments, but each time Barry arrives, he says something flippant like, "Oh, I dunno, I just had a weird moment, but all's good now.  See you next week at our regular time..."

This happens several times, and eventually the kindly therapist realizes that there IS something up and that it's not Barry that's coming to the appointments, but rather, it's the devious Dennis impersonating personality Barry and saying everything's hunky doory!  All the while, poor Barry is in there sending her these urgent emails! (Follow?)

So it was entertaining in a thriller kind of way.  But I mention it here because... dun dun duuuuuuun...
I swear it's happening to me! HELP

Several weeks ago, a mom contacted me about tutoring her daughter.  I've since met with the daughter four or five times - it's all kind of a blur - and EVERY time I meet with her, EVERYTHING'S FINE!

She doesn't have any questions about anything.  She doesn't even bring class materials with her. She's personable enough and wants to talk about all kinds of things - most of which I'm not remotely interested in - that have nothing to do with her class. And I'm all, "then why the f...".

I've told them that she's not at all obligated to meet with me every week, just call or text when there's something she needs extra help with, and we'll schedule it, etc.  So I get a call or a text from Mom, I show up, and NOTHING!

This happened again yesterday, and I'm so ready to just be done with these people.  I think Mom thinks daughter needs lots of help, daughter doesn't think she needs much help, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle.  They probably fight over this the way moms and teenage daughters sometimes do, so I hear.

Or MAYbe...

... it's really just one person.

Mom personality texts me, and daughter personality takes over and shows up for the appointment to assure me that everything is fine, and can we just talk about friends and weird teachers and what she did over the weekend?

Come to think of it, the fist time I met with Daughter, Mom said she would come along to meet me.  But she ended up not coming to that or any other appointment.  I've never spoken to her in person or seen the two of them together *GASP!*

Or, have I??

Things did not end well for the kindly therapist.  Just sayin'...

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Linking up this week with Mama Kat for the prompt:
3. Write a blog post inspired by the word: challenge

welcome to the club, Travis

It was as if the world had stopped in that moment.  I went from enjoying a lovely morning like most others to suddenly becoming aware of my mortality. Was this really how my life was going to end?

The beast charged me with a focus I can't put into words.  I hardly had any time to react, and he was on me, plunging his teeth and squeezing his vice-like jaws of death into my flesh.

As the blood drained from my body, Good-bye... good-bye... I'll miss you all...

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But I survived.  Miraculously.  My will to survive was stronger than anything that ferocious beast had for me.  Yes, I am one of those rare people who've been attacked by a wild ferocious animal and lived to tell about it...

...like Travis Kauffman, that guy who killed a mountain lion with his bare hands while out trail running a few weeks ago.  I think his story made national news, but it was pretty big around here.  Like many others, I found myself imagining what that must have been like.  Like many others, I like to spend time traipsing around in the boonies.  Like many others, I've been in the area where the incident happened.

But hey, I don't have to just use my imagination.  The exact same thing happened to me!  I blogged about it, even!  Right [HERE]!

And yet, no news outlets wanted to hear my account.  No memes were made about me.

SOURCE

Fine. I don't want the attention anyway.  But I just thought I'd post this reminder to myself.

Wilderness /suburbs, mountain lion / Lhasa Apso .  It's all pretty much the exact same thing, right?