December 9 Best Photo

December 9, 2011 Prompt:

Best Photo

Today, please post your best photo of the year. 

I really do not need to say anything.  I think I am the luckiest person in the world to be loved by Malachi. To have him run up to me and willingly with open arms hug me was such a big thrill for me. Grandkids are the best gift I have ever gotten. They thrill me more than anything I have ever experienced in my life. 

December 8 Catch Prase

December 8, 2011 Prompt:

Catch Phrase

What's your trademark phrase? 


"What's that mean?" I can hear myself saying that everyday. There are so many things that I don't understand. Often times they are associated with Edik because I get so confused by what he says and what he means or how is behavior translates. Or someone will do something and my response has to be "what's that mean?"


Trying to understand all the lives going on around me and associated with mine, is a complicated thing. Knowing where and how I fit in and if I even do fit in, leaves the words "what's that mean?" hanging in the air and circling my head.

December 6th Thelma and Louise

December 6, 2011 Prompt:

Thelma & Louise..

Who is the Thelma to your Louise? Who is your partner in crime? 


In Alaska my Thelma and Louise would have been Lori and Tracey without a doubt. But down here in Oregon for the last 16 years there has been no girl friend to enjoy the everyday events of life with. Feels kind of lonely. Brian is my Thelma, (because I am Beth Louise). He goes along with every hair brained idea I can come up with, he supports me as I jump head long over the cliff into a new project. He is sitting in the get away car waiting as I finish up some new deal I am working on. He is the strong support I need.


But if I look at my daily adventures Edik is the one by my side, my silent partner in crime, is is my accomplice. Safe by my side, watching for any mistake I may make. Tagging along on every misadventure in shopping and real estate. He would absolutely hate to be known as Thelma because anything girly just makes him squeamish! 

December 7 Achievement Unlocked

December 7, 2011 Prompt:

Achievement Unlocked

What goal did you set for yourself and achieve this year? 


A secret desire I had was to stop being depressed. I can't say that I did anything to stop that really but it did come about. I did not (said with a deep low commanding voice) "set a goal", but I don't typically set goals because I might not make them and then I would be disappointed. But after two years of being frustrated and not having any hope (which is the definition of depression) I decided to just lower my expectations, and not care anymore. Oddly enough it worked. The less I want things to be my way, which is not a selfish statement, because my way might just be to be more loving, or the be more loved, or to be more successful, or to be less irritable, those kinds of my ways, the happier I got when I let go of them. I have know this lesson for a long time, but I usually could pull myself up by my boot straps and stay happy, but it didn't work anymore. So reducing my expectations has been the pill I have taken like someone might take Prozac. The depression has lifted and the world is a bright and beautiful full place in my mind and heart again.

December 5 Theme song for the Year

Theme Song

If your life was a television show, what would its theme song be? What music would be cued at the start of the show or when you entered a scene?


I get up, I work out, I get dressed; carefully planning my make-up and ensemble for what ever I am doing for the day. Then when I walk out of the bedroom, I throw open the door and mouth the words "It's showtime". I think I do it for myself, to ready myself to take on the day. I really have no illusions on being some beauty or some all pulled together sophisticated women. But just making that statement seems to set an attitude that I can take what ever comes at me because I have done my best to look acceptable.


But in reality I think that the best theme song would be the Circus theme music, dat dat da da, dat dat da da da da... you know the musical number played on the Calliope when all the clowns are coming in and being silly. This music is more appropriate for the craziness that often accompanies my days. The bizarre conversations or exchanges between Edik and I, or the disjointed encounters with clients over paperwork, or showings, or maybe all the little interruptions of my day.So silly clown music probably better describes everday for me than would any sophisticated thoughts of having it all together.


But I could also claim the old crooner song, I Did It My Way. Not that I am being rebellious about anything. But parenting Edik is not text book, I don't think there is a manual for raising him. It requires a special approach that is direct, deliberate and consistent..So sometimes I just have to do things my way, because it works.

December 4 What is your Super Power

Think about it for a moment: what have you learned that you can do better than anyone you know this year? What can you do that no one else can? 


I remember watching the TV show No Ordinary Hero, as I recall they received some unexpected super powers. They actually did not want them. I am not really a fan of having the power that I have. It is more of a burden than a benefit to me. It benefits the receiver of it but not necessarily in the way they would like.


Reading minds is my super power. I typically can tell when someone is lying. I can catch most people in the lie they may be telling, or just know when they are not being honest about what they are doing, saying, or thinking.


This super power is kind of a secret because if I reveal the times that I use it and who I use it on, it could lead to more evasion by the subjects, because they are close at hand.


My exclusive super power is being the only one who can take the time, to slowly, using words and ideas he understands to explain the meaning of everything that needs to be taught to Edik. To go over and over something maybe 100 or more times to help him grasp the idea or concept that he needs to take to heart. To take the time to make him stop, do "it" right, to start at the beginning and work through the event or the idea and make each and every correct decision to get the correct outcome. While doing this to decipher through what he understands and what he has no clue about even though he is agreeing to something or saying he does understand. I have the ability to know when he is confused or just being down right 14 year old boy stubborn. Which I would hope he would not exercise considering his inability to logically reason. And without that ability, imagine trying to teach someone something. It all boils down to my super power of consistency.


I am like the No Ordinary Family super hero's, I have superpowers, I am surprised by them and I am reluctant to use them, but when I do it is for good.