A Friday First

This has been a really good week.  We were in West Virginia last weekend for Memorial Day, and then this week both of us were on vacation.  We didn't really go anywhere else or do much else, though some dear friends visited on Thursday which was the best.  Even having a dentist's appt didn't ruin the fun (especially since it was just for a cleaning and a checkup).

I have many stories and some pictures to share with you related to our trip and our week at home, but those will have to wait.  

Because you really need to see this:

Now you may be saying to yourself, "Big deal, it's a watermelon sock-in-progress in a planter."  And you would be correct, but it's more than that.  You see, this picture represents two "firsts" for me.  It is the first time I have ever taken a picture using the camera on my new Android tablet (!), and it is the first picture ever that I have posted on Instagram.  If you want to read the HILARIOUS caption (well ...), it's here.*

So you can see that I have joined the twentieth century.  

Baby steps, people.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

*if the link works ...

Memorial Day 2015

Your silent tents of green

We deck with fragrant flowers;

Yours has the suffering been,

The memory shall be ours.

-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This day and this life was made possible by others.  Enjoy, but also remember.

Let Me Tell You This Right Now

This week's Ten on Tuesday topic is:

10 Things You Would Say If  You Gave a Commencement Address

I have always wanted to give a commencement address, since I think that most of them are full of expectations and cliches, and even though mine might be as well, at least mine would be short.  Let's face it, most of the students just want to walk across the stage and officially graduate, and most people in attendance want to see a particular person do just that.  So in spite of the fact that many speakers seem to think a long rambling speech is called for, it is not.  Even just "Congratulations" would do the trick, in my opinion.  And since tomorrow will be the 37th anniversary (!) of my graduation from college, it seemed a good time to add my two cents.

Anyway, here are the Golden Nuggets of Wisdom that I would impart.  ;-)

1.  Good for you, you made it.  Now don't waste it.

2.  Remember, after your first job, no one will care where you went to school.  I was asked about it at interviews for my first job because there wasn't a whole lot else to discuss.  But I can't think of the last time someone mentioned it.

3.  Related to that first job - don't expect it to be your dream job.  It is your job to prove that you deserve employment.

4.  Don't let anyone pressure you into a "5-year plan" personally or professionally.  I can guarantee you that none of us can predict the next five years with any accuracy.  When people ask me where I hope to be in the next five years, my answer is always "Still above ground."

5.  Make peace with the fact that no matter how much it may dismay you now, you *will* in some ways become your parents.

6.  Laugh daily.

7.  Remember to say "I love you" on a regular basis.

8.  Be kind to the world and people around you.  Volunteer to help.  Remember the saying: "If you want something done, ask a busy person.  The other has no time."

9.  Enjoy your life.  You only get one, and a lot of times it will suck, so make the most of the good parts.  Remember that the world owes you nothing, and you can choose how happy you will be, even when terrible things happen.

10. Remember that knowing how to think is more important than knowing everything.

***

I could add others, but like I said above, all commencement speeches should be short.  So anything else would have to said the next time I was asked to speak  somewhere ...

Five Favorites for This Friday

I haven't felt inspired to write one of these posts for a while, mostly because the past few weeks have been so busy and often so annoying/frustrating that it was hard to step back and focus on the good.  But it's time to change that if at all possible.  So here are five of my favorite things from the past week.

1.  A long weekend in Rehoboth Beach.  My niece Amanda and her husband Pat invited us to stay with them last weekend at a house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, that Pat's family shares.  We took Dug with us, and the weather was perfect, we had a wonderful time, and even though it was only four days, it felt like weeks away.  And it made up for missing Maryland Sheep & Wool this year. (Dug is still recovering from the whole weekend!)

2.  A helpful person in the radiology dept where I am supposed to have an MRI.  There was a mess-up with  my insurance (of course, right?), and not only did she work it all out, but she was kind, friendly, and went above and beyond.  I was so impressed, I sent an e-mail to her supervisor.  It's so great to get excellent customer service when so many places have none at all.

3.  A good haircut and color.  I had an appt this week to get a haircut and get my hair colored.  I knew the color would be good, since the person doing it has done a great job before.  But the haircut part has been 50-50.  This time it worked out well, so I was really pleased.  I may still try another place, because her haircutting is so hit-or-miss, but for now I'm happy with it.

4.  Inspiration to organize mindfully.  I have been reading the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo (you know, just like a bazillion other people), and it has inspired me.  Granted, it also amuses me to know end, the way she expresses her methods and what she wants the reader to do, and I'll probably adapt it for my own circumstances (for instance, we don't have enough space to put every single thing of one type on the floor and work on sorting it), but it has made me want to be more mindful when I am organizing things.   It all makes sense, I think that most of us just don't give it that much thought.   My attempts will begin this weekend.

5.  Nice weather.  Spring has been here all week, and it feels great.  I just hope it lasts, and doesn't suddenly become summer.

How about you?  Has your week been a good one?  Whether it has or not, best wishes for a wonderful weekend!