Monday, January 28, 2008

A Knock on the Nose

Sargeant is about to be ousted from his comfy spot on my bed. Pretty normal situation to rearrange my companimals. Right now, Miz Paws is curled up next to me and Sargeant is on the other side of the wooden table in this photo. It's a move of about three feet for him. The wooden implement is a bed table I brilliantly bought myself this Christmas as a gift for my new laptop. (Sargent just moved. He's now behind me, on top of the pillow, where he can look out the window. Of course, it's impossible to take a photo! If I did it would show bi-level companimals!)

Back to my story ... although it's large and bulky, the thought of having a bed table seemed brilliant at the time. It's a wonderful table. I'm using it right now. It's sturdily made with magazine holders on each side. As a special feature, the top of the table can be tilted for book reading.

That tilt is the problem ... it's now securely (I hope!) taped shut.

The table usually resides on the hope chest at the end of my bed. On Saturday when I went to pick it up I didn't realize the top could swing free. It not only swung free, it hit me with quite a blow on my glasses. Neither my glasses nor my nose broke but the result was instant pain, abrasion, and glasses knocked out of kilter. I've been on pain pills ever since but my face is still inflamed and my eyes are dreadfully puffy.

I'm home from work today and heading to my eye doctor's office in a few hours to see if I can get my glasses put back into shape. I'm grateful they did their job -- my eyes were protected from what could have been a worse injury.
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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Vanishing Tucson

I belong to the Yahoo Group "Vanishing Tucson". It's an interesting mix of people who have lived here a long time, newcomers, old-timers, and travelers. There are memories shared of places long gone and alerts about places about to be lost. Various members of the group are photographers and enjoy preserving Tucson photographically.

Yesterday we were able to go to Magic Carpet Golf to photo-document what may become a parking lot instead of an enchanting, crumbling place of memories to be made.

As a quilt artist I was interested in the textures and colors. My contribution to the photographic history is in this Webshots album:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/562280166NkBhXA

I would very much like to see some of the structures moved to a park where children and adults alike can continue to enjoy them.
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Saturday, January 26, 2008

Choices

I'm revisiting a creativity course I first took a year ago. At that time I was wondering what direction my life might take in retirement.

While I could take Social Security now, I have no desire to do so. I want to continue working at my good job for another two to five years, maybe even longer. I'm not one to sit in a rocking chair and watch my remaining decades pass. What would keep me active, involved, and continuing to love life?

The answer, prompted by the course, was to become a teacher. Today, the teaching is quilting and mentoring Junior Achievement students. I've discovered I love teaching. It energizes me and I learn so very much from my students.

I express my creativity in fabric, beads and fiber. I'm a writer. I'm a photographer. Combining these talents is something I love to do!

The gate is in a garbage alley near my home. It represents choices ... life is a series of gates that we can choose to open or not. Outside the gate is the now of today. Beyond the gate is the now of tomorrow. The choice is mine. I can stay as I am, or I can add new adventures.

I hope you enjoy my gate photo as much as I do!

-- Joanna