Mother Nature is Menopausal

Mother Nature is a wild woman. Besides the heartbreaking disasters worldwide, she is being quite fickle with the weather in SoCal as of late. Some days it's winter, some days it's spring, some days it's a season not yet defined.

Last week: high 50s, rain, wind, battening down the hatches.

This week: sunshine, breezes, and today a high of 90.

What gives ma? I like it a moderate 75 with a slight breeze. I don't have a/c and my poorly-insulated plaster walls don't do well with extreme heat or cold...but mostly heat.

In other news, a second variety of my poppies are blooming and our renters have given notice. If you are quiet, clean, and by culture like taking your shoes off before entering the home and want to live in an adorable 1 bedroom/1 bath duplex, give me a ring.

8 days

It's been 8 days since my last visit to Target-a record in itself.

Last night I actually dreamed that I showed up, almost walked in thle automatic doors and then reminded myself I shouldn't be there. Naturally every shelf was completely alluring, but I turned away proud of my self-discipline.

People have really mocked my sacrifice for Lent. Perhaps it is a little unusual, but what's the difference with chocolate, soda, or wine? I know someone who even gave up Facebook. The point is to sacrifice something important in your life. We are not giving up food and water here, but many select indulgences. Who are we to judge? We aren't, that's the point.

Erin Go Bragh!

Here's a Thursday confession that's about 20 years overdue: I think of St. Patrick's Day as my personal holiday. Perhaps it's my name, perhaps it's the fact that I've been brought up on an Irish spoon by my maternal grandparents (although there definitely was Italian present too-for some reason I cling to the Emerald Aisle...I think it has to do with my paleness factor and freckles.)

In any event:

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Sacrifice

After much thought, I am doing it-farewell Target, see you in 38 days. I hope Scott is up for his new role in this marriage for a few weeks. At least it will come with VERY specific lists.

Love for Target

I was going to write a post about possibly giving up Target for Lent. I go there FAR too often. Sometimes up to 4 times a week. It's always because I forget one little thing, which in reality, I could probably live without. I don't think I am alone in this-women LOVE Target. My neighbor now sends her husband because she does not have the self-restraint. I don't know how people are able to go less than one time per week. Perhaps they shop at Costco and really stock up. Try as I might, I'm not on a schedule of running out of tp, paper towels, razors and toothpaste all at the same time.

It's not like their merchandise changes THAT often. It's the marketing, placement, the fact that you can accomplish so much there. Shredded cheddar-check. A new side table lamp-check. Cardigan-check. Mascara-check. Dollar bin binges-check. Some people are weirded out by a cart with cereal and a tank top in it. I am happy to have one less trip.

At any rate, if I give up my visits (let's be honest, cut down to bi-weekly) it starts tomorrow because they saved my derriere today. A vital daily medication of mine somehow disappeared between yesterday morning and today, and after searching high and low in my purse and truck (which also recently swallowed Scott's driver's license-coincidence?) they were nowhere to be found. I called the pharmacist, who was great. He told me they'd contact my insurance company about filling the gap and no sooner than 2 minutes later he told me it was ready. I went down there lickety split, and the pharmacist-the friendliest I've experienced-told me it was a courtesy prescription. When does that happen?

I <3 you Target, especially your pharmacy today.

My Science Project

I've come a long way since lima beans, thanks to the help of my mother-in-law who weeds each time she comes over, since I cannot tell the difference. She very sweetly informed me when my 4 foot dandelion was in fact, not one of my seedlings.

I'm very proud of these poppies, even if they are akin to the leaning tower of Pisa. They are my little garden babies.

I'm still waiting for my poppies and dahlias to bloom. I did not grow the calla lilies-those were a gift from my mother in law, nor did I plant the hot pink shrubby plants-I was tired of the non-sprouting greenery and needed some insta-color.
We have a long way to go but we're getting there.

Life Cycle

I joined my parents and uncles as they settled my grandpa into assisted living this week. He, like usual, was grumpy, uncomfortable and really not into this new idea of life. But as we walked away and he became acclimated with his new address, I could not but compare the scenario to the adult equivalent of leaving your child on their first day of kindergarten.

My hope is that it will be much easier when my grandma will join him in the coming weeks. Life really is a cycle.

It's YOUR Birthday, Giraffe Girl!

I want to wish one of the most wonderful women I know a very happy birthday as she embarks on a very memorable year, with the birth of her first baby in the summer.

Happy birthday Ashley!

Thank you for your friendship and pretty much one of the most lovely people to walk the earth. I'm so glad we thought each other looked normal enough to talk to on that fateful first day at Chapman!

The Season of Giving

Since it's the season of giving (giving to the tax man that is), I figured it would be nice to highlight some of the charities that I support throughout the year, as I believe in their respective missions in helping fight their own good fight. It's also another way of supporting my friends and family who are directly affected or related to the causes.

Invisible Children: Scott went to Africa for a cumulative 5 months during two different summers to assist this NGO's database building and suffice to say it was a life changing experience for him. In their own words: "We are mobilizing a generation to capture the attention of the international community, and make a stand for justice in the wake of genocide." The organization has created a movement among the young, bringing attention to a crisis deserving US intervention.

Habitat for Humanity: Because everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to live. I had preconceived notions about Habitat until I sat in on one of their seminars and learned about the criteria required of recipients--these folks are on stringent when it comes to who can apply. When it comes to US builds, applicants must be US citizens, show a proven income, and take various classes before home ownership. My friend is currently in the process of crossing off one of her bucket list goals--going to Brazil to help build homes for families there and is raising money to finance expenses incurred to do so.* I hope to also participate in a build (closer to home) in the near future.

National MS Society: Because this disease, like pretty much all others, needs to be kicked to the curb. My friend's mom was diagnosed many years ago and I know how much it would mean to her and many others out there to see a cure if not progress made in understanding this disease more.

I know there are countless charities out there that are clamoring for funds, and I think it is important to identify those that you can either lend your time, talent, or treasure, because each of those aspects are highly needed.


*My very legal disclaimer: my friends do not know I am promoting their causes. I believe in them and what they are doing and hope that perhaps someone might be inclined to donate as well.