Oh, Sandy

    

   

     I'm hanging out here  in north-central Ohio, thinking about how grateful I am that I tend to live a minimalist life. It's hard for me to comprehend the local news and all the "freaking out" over the monster of a hurricane striking us; the no batteries, the this, the that, the 'what-ifs'.  In this household, we have more than we need to be okay and safe through this mess.
      With my being an outdoors type of girl, I always have plenty of lanterns, supplies to keep warm, and a mind capable of improvising should the power fail, or whatever. ------In fact, I crack myself up when I think of MY personal concerns: Got showers out of the way, cell phones fully charged, and most importantly, I made an extra pot of coffee that is currently being stored in a thermos...Just in case...and, I baked a huge batch of brownies and apple cinnamon pastries...Just in case...
       I've realized, too, that I not only amuse myself easily, but apparently I entertain pretty simply, as well:  I'm sitting in my favorite chair by the window and have it open just a hair so I can listen to the power of the wind and rain doing its thing. I'm in awe, experiencing an immense respect for the power nature has over us all.  And though it's thrilling from where I sit, I hope that those further east, and those not as crazy as me are safe from harm.

A Dork's Life, Part 1

     Every now and again, the urge strikes me to try real hard to not be such a dork.  It never goes well.
Yesterday, for example, I was cleaning mini-man's room and found an old green pencil pouch.  Can't remember which kid it originally belonged to, but it's one of those cool kinds that has the rings so it can be put in a binder.  Not only that, it has one big pouch that zippers, PLUS a smaller one with a clear front AND subdivided into two separate sections.  Aw, man.  Life doesn't get any better.
     I didn't even have to think.  The following all came naturally.  Part-one of the subdivided section has become my gum and mint holder; Part-two is for money, driver's license and debit card.  (I get goosebumps as I type this). And as for the big pouch part, well that's the best part of all.  I have all of the pens and pencils that seem to congregate and multiply in the bottom of my purse in there.  They seem quite happy in the company of the wayward paperclips that I can't just leave on the ground.  As an added bonus, I can fit my car keys and cell phone in the pouch if I don't feel like carrying my former school bag, now purse, around.