2012 .......What Does It All Mean?

Sometimes in a day or a month happenings become totally unpredictable and out of control.  I am thinking   that control is only an abstract word in which we delude ourselves.  We make schedules, preparations and honor calendars and clocks as if they were sacred markers containing seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years.  Calendars which go back to the beginning of time as humanoids woke each day and marked the sun.  All is illusion except that the sun, our nearest star, appears each day and then disappears in a flash of brilliant color sometimes.

And movement is instantaneous these days when we can push a key, or a button, hear and see anywhere in the world and those we love playing, laughing or crying.  Robert Burns says in his poetry that the plans of mice and men  "aftimes gang aglay".  So true for this year.  Ed and I are now taking doubtful pleasure in a  seemingly unending redecorating project.  Unseen forces have disrupted the desert dwelling in which we have habited, landscaped and loved.  Of course everything that is man-made has a shelf life.  And we as other living things, animals and plants, afterall must adapt to these shifting sands, hot and cold winds and climate changes.

So much more respect for the Romans and the ruins which continue to force a place in time.  So we as they are connected in our passing.  What enduring marks will we leave in these places where we walk and dwell.  Food for thought occurs when the unexpected appears.  Thank goodness I no longer keep a daytimer and every minute is as flexible as the icalendar which exist in a cloud and synces our days  Or is that "sinks"?

December mornings

These days move as fast as the wind which has been sweeping down the canyon shifting the sand from the sage to our patio and walkways.  Tumultuous times these.  We were, Mr. Ed and I, creative yesterday to take some holiday ideas north for a tiny tree for a tiny apartment.  So we dealt with a number of tiny objects some plastic, some metal, some minute screws and a few cuss words.  Of course we had spent some time at Walgreens and some time earlier at the dog groomers.  Even though Fritz was fluffy and clean and loved he stayed well away from our afternoon craftiness.  O what fun Christmas can be.  And what a surprise when others see and o and ah about our tiny tree.  What a surprise!  Oh what can it Be!

Seriously we are getting ready for the new hip and the northern trip.  I found this wonderful, amazing site which enabled participation and learning in how to do a hip transplant.  This educational site was complete with an instructor, a test, and graphics which moved from procedure to procedure.  Both from the standpoint of the patient and the idea of actually being a participant this was a challenge to complete.  My orthopedic skills were duly noted.  I don't think I could actually do the holding of the scalpel but I certainly could assist.  The technology available to learn new ideas from the internet provides the old brain cells more materials than time.  It is a good thing that I never was one to faint at the sight of blood but I may err toward the vampire because I find it so fascinating to watch.

Well I spent this morning in my six o clock awakening, reviewing the blogs of my sweet, talented and beautiful family.  So I know that yesterday was fun for everyone.  Trees are showing already in many living rooms north and south.  I swear I will not however bake another sugar cookie until the new year.   That is unless somebody else will help eat them.  This year Pilsbury's sliced cookies brought back memories of my own grandmother Nelson who always, always had a jar filled with sugar cookies in the pantry when her grandkids came running into the house.  My brother agreed the taste and the memory are wonderful at this time of the year.  So as Grandma goes north she will need someone to help with a tiny tree, someone to help bake cookies, and someone to eat them.  Do you know that someone?  Ed already has agreed to be a member of the crew.  How about you?

Update, Latedate,Holidaydate,

What else can I say.  I had forgotten my own blog in the interest of reading others and the summer went by.
   
Time waits for no one as the song goes, it passes you by.  It goes on forever like a cloud in the sky.  Never heard that before?  You must be thirtyish.  The time is now fall and snow and rain coming shortly.  Big yard sale here in Kayenta and we probably will miss it.  Getting older one collects many things.  Dusty things.  Things that encourage spiders and a lack of space, drawers, outside storage and on and on. And like barnacles on a whale your body collects things which you would like to trade to someone else. Ah but then you look at your daughter, your grandchildren and great grandchildren and realize everything has a price.  So little to pay for such walking happiness, beauty and fun.

And I like everyone else mourned the passing of Steve Jobs.  So we increased our itoys and spent the past two weeks exploring new iways. Life wirelessly requires new brain work and a little shouting at each other.  We can now print from anywhere, our house, your house, the moon.  One wonders about the cloud and if it will rain on our parade but we keep pushing the buttons.  I have created one masterpiece which will endure.  Read on:

In September early October we visited the balloon festival in Albuquerque New Mexico.  Of course even the iphone got up at 3:30 a.m. to see balloons and take some pics.  First you drive to a bus stop, park your car and along with other excited travelors you get on provided school buses and travel north to the acres of land donated to huge balloons which are transported there by comparatively tiny trailors.  I took many, many, too many photos but there were so many beautiful, glorious colors and balloons of all sizes taking off and firing up.  Somehow I pushed the video button on the camera's side and got a mixture of still shots, video and grass and our own silly noses.  Well video was most appropriate after all and the iphone has a mind of its own I think.  After much struggling I managed to get an 11 minute movie.  Some scenes continue to explore grass & wave about at nothing but I did manage to edit out a lot of wasted space and to get it all on a movie.  I probably will share the movie with everyone like it or not.
I think the accompaning music is x rated but I don't hear well enough to sort it out and I like the beat and the mosaic display.

Maybe I will wait to share this blockbuster movie after Rachel, Lisa, Chris, David or Laurence helps me edit.    

TGIF and Peeping Toms

As a retired Granny,  I am not working so the  title TGIF might be a little weak except that a glorious sun is holding the sky.  Still not walking, I am in my shorts trying to take on some rays, and.....I managed to cook breakfast for us for a change.  Blueberry pancakes for a blueberry sky.  Also I figured out a way to weigh my body minus the boot, which I was certain weighed about 10 lbs. at least.  Guess again.....2 lbs.  This computation means that I have gained some pounds thanks to everyone's royal treatment of me, Ed's cooking and then my own commiseration over restricting freedoms  and boredom of a recovering patient.  I have never been known to be patient by the way.  But indulgent chocolate and ice cream remedies for sulking never work in the long run.  Now I have to check all my diet lists so that I can get back into summer clothes again.

Freedom is also gradually returning.  Here I am at my very own computer.  So now I can tell you about the  window peeping tom.  Every morning in the west bathroom I spend some time doing my hair, cosmetics, and dressing.  Not to mention a basin bath and clean up.(I have to have limited showers because Ed has to be there to help some.)  Anyway, I began to feel I was being watched. (I do have the shade up on the window each day to let in the sun.)  So imagine my surprise to see this little gecco that goes up the stucco supports of our ramada hanging to the side and watching me.  He is the same gecco because he has a little stripe of black around his neck, and he has kind of grey and red colors which match the stucco.  He watches me for a time and then he leaves.  This has happened for about three mornings now.  I think the guy has a crush on me.  Maybe he is related to the television gecco because he has an amazing personality for a gecco.  Do geccos have brains?  Can they be trained as pets?  I hate to end our relationship.  What do you think?

Mending tendon or whatever

So the last time I wrote the words were full of self pity, remorse and frustration about cracking the glass table top all over my leg.  Impatience may be a virtue to thrust one ahead in life but more times than not haste makes waste as my mom used to say.  Blaming it on one's genes doesn't help because after so many years on this earth one would gain wisdom above basic instinct.  Never too old to learn.  Myself and this black boot are not the fashion statement I wanted to make this year although it does compliment my new black toner sketcher.  Hobbling around the kitchen for the next month, sleeping with the boot which requires no cover and will be an increasing source of warmth in the approaching summer.

Missed Havesu and all the fun.  Missed Africa and the glorious promises of the travel brochure.  Instead I have been the recipient of many condolences, gifts, cards, visits and kisses from friends, family and my dog Fritz.  He, Fritz, follows my hulking footsteps wherever.  Always on the ready to send a howl of distress if I need it.  We have the patios front and back, red towering mountains and cliffs and an ever increasing cascade of color with desert broom, cacti, roses, geraniums and indigo all fighting for attention.  The prolonged rainy season only receives grand applause from the desert foliage...  We are so lucky.  So now I am breathing in this sunshine and fragrant breeze while taking the time to observe calesthenics of geccos, flights of humming birds and finches and desert doves.  And then there is the marvelous culinary treats provided by chief chef Eduardo and friends.  Magnifique!   And quiet hours to read and enjoy.  Who knew rehab could be like this?  Thanks everyone.  I love you.

Sunday in the Desert Snow

We, the four of us, started at 9:00 a.m.  Not early but just late enough to take the chill of the air under a partly cloudy sky.  The canyon already had numerous hiking groups.  Not nearly the popularity the canyon will have in a few weeks.  We had a brochure which describes various hikes.  Ten+ years we have lived not more than a mile and a half away.  In fact if we could throw a rope over the top of RedMountain it would be much less than that.  I was so surprised at the number of marked trails and the variety of milage attached to each.  We were looking for a before breakfast hike so not much over 1 or 1 and a half miles.  I have not been hiking for a few years and was not certain to what level I could handle or for how long.

I cheated and so was not worried about breakfast.  Ed has challenges with eyesight when cliffs and heights are involved so we wanted to pick a hike with a moderate trail difficulty.  No matter which trail one picked in this canyon the beautfy was certain to exceed expectations.  Yet there are always challenges in places for those of us not in condition or trained for some decending trails.  I took a few pictures with my new iphone.       I must explain that I have never used a phone to take pictures and I also didn't have the manual for the iphone with me.  I took 5 and that seemed the limit to which it would respond.  Obviously I need to study the capabilities to adjust the camera to meet my needs.  I am now.....if I can....going to add them right here and then Rachel and Lisa can critique my work.  Thank goodness for the young bright minds in this family.  I think they get impatient with the need to repeat for old forgetful brains but I pester and pester.  Sort of role  reversal after 30 some years if you get my meaning.  

Sunday morning in the canyon (Snow)

We had such a fun hike with our friends Lanelle and Allen that I tried out my new pfile:///Users/efuria/Desktop/IMG_0002.jpghone's camera.  Now I will try toput some pics on here.file:///Users/efuria/Desktop/IMG_0004.jpgfile:///Users/efuria/Desktop/IMG_0003.jpgfile:///Users/efuria/Desktop/IMG_0004.jpgfile:///Users/efuria/Desktop/IMG_0005.jpg