The day after

a holiday without being in az is hard sometimes; not many people to call and just say "want to xxxx" without it being related to work...so I spend a lot of time by myself...went to a movie today. had tg at c,n with l,d,n and w and b...we laughed and laughed and ate and ate...my friend from Washington decided not to come to visit so that was a bit of a disappointment. will be getting more involved with the q center and that will be fun...Ms S is sleeping on my printer...or should I say her printer...next to the heater, of course. She is smart. went for a long walk yesterday so that was good; want to do it tomorrow too...my new health insurance. anyway, time to go to sleep...so off to sleepy time.

Long Time Ago

Just a hello to my blog; have not forgotten you...just busy with other stuff...started doing some body work with yoga...yes, hard to image me on the floor but yes I did it...and it was fun. Nov 15 the anniversary of my mother's death in 1977. Some tears and lots of memories. She was quite a woman of her times; she crossed many boundaries and cultures for her time. Miss her! What a life she lead....a role model for me in many ways...thanks mom.

Char in China in the 1977

It is time to Laugh--yes an antidote for grey

It takes a team to plan an ecocity

Guess Who in Vietnam

It Is Me Again

so after turning 64, going to Vietnam for almost one month, being in the er for a couple of days with lots of love around me, attending a national social workers meeting, being a new member of a national social worker board, starting to teach, finishing a self study, revising an article...just a few things the last time I wrote in this blog...plus coming to the conclusion that Ms S will not be able to continue living with me...and all that implies...selling my timeshare...to a dear friend who loves Phx in the summer (how rare is that)---so, basically, trying to find some time to get my thousands of pictures organized for a small presentation...had a spring roll today for lunch; the first time I have had Vietnamese food since late September. The pix is in Hoian...cool looking leaf in a resort place we all stayed....but it was so hot...

Thursday

A week of fun and starting my vacation; movies, dinner with friends, getting my apartment clean. packing and repacking, buying luggage, taking luggage back, buying purses, taking purses back...relaxation, sleeping late, taking naps...all vacation type behaviors...leaving tomorrow afternoon for Japan and Hong Kong...my luggage looks good and used so many tips from packing ideas from youtube...c and n came over toniight and he sang me a blessing song and smuged me with his eagle feather...so sweet...I was looking at the sunset; they took s to their place. l,d,h came over with dinner with points so sweet...feel so loved...will miss s but she knows I love her...it is a beuiful day and night...all is well...I am blessed by so many friends...had a nice dinner with m and her daughter last night too...surrounded by love and feel their love and acceptance...it will all be well..it is all good! I am blessed. Thank you hp...great spirit...buddhas...

Art Face Collage

Getting Ready

Trying to get stuff ready for my trip to Vietnam....new camera and new ways of uploading for friends to see my trip as I go....fun

Sorrel Is an Action Cat

n,c, h are leaving tomorrow for o....will miss them; went over there for dinner and they burned a fire outside with papers....we had marshmallows...what fun they are. 2 friends called today from Flag and they are here visiting so will see them for dinner tomorrow night..know them from uu. watching a documentary about the Doors from the 60's---that takes me back...I was so young. The music makes me think of so much...Prescott college, UofA, my friends from PC...Sorrel is sleeping my my computer....not an action cat now...for a change of pace...so sweet when she is resting. it was a beautiful day...cool in the am and in the 70's in the afternoon...blue skies...even saw a star to night...that is always a treat....sure miss the night sky from Flag.

It is getting closer

It is getting closer...the end of August will be here....so far I have bought three suitcases and finally today think I actually found the one I will use...have to take back one and already took the other one back to AAA. My visa dates were wrong so glad I actually read the visa the other day so had to sent it in again....there is enough time to do that...thank g....l et al is coming home tonight from 3 weeks in Italy...it has been beautiful today...cool in the am and warmer in the afternoon..very nice.

Portland is Finally Sunny and Hot

It took awhile but it is now sunny and hot...yea team! Reading "The Sacred Willow" by Duong Van Mai Elliott a four generational story about her family in Vietnam...very interesting to read about the life and not just tourist places...inside their culture and values. Trying to get my computer hooked up at home with a new wireless system..keep calling...going over to l,d, h to see the kitty cats pretty soon; after a visit to n,h,c...big noisy birds outside on the trees and s is going crazy; she wants to hunt so badly..her eyes are big and her lips are quivering and her tail is going all around..poor thing can't get to them at all...off to reading a little more and staying cool inside.

A Beautiful Day

A day we all like....cool in the morning and getting warmer in the afternoon with sunshine! Late evening with sweet gentle light...bought my new luggage for my trip...plus some other goodies...travel book was given to me by the manager since my experience with another salesperson earlier was not pleasant...so that was nice of her. So I have been reading the history of Vietnam in my new LoneyPlanet Vietnam book. They are an amazing people and culture...no matter who has tried to take them over...they have not been able to. Sure getting excited about going there...going to do a trail pack and see how little I can take!

Zen Then Something

Full day---made my hotel reservations for Hong Kong and Vietnam...got my visa yesterday...went to a workshop on Zen Buddhism...taught us how to begin to meditate from the Zen perspective; sitting with your eyes open...did it for about 20 minutes...very relaxed after wards..meeting new people...liked the feeling of the place...near by off Hawthorne...then went to n,c,h for dinner...a small pool outside and watched them play...I just laugh when I am with them...now I am totally tired and still need to make my bed for tonight...2nd day of ww and doing really well..what I liked about what they said about Zen is that it gets you in touch with your body by sitting and listening and feeling your breathing...quietly. It did...I liked the way the place felt...very nice day...hot but not unbearable like a couple days ago...really want to do some watercolor...nite nite

In the Last 72 hrs

bought ticket to Vietnam...that is commitment! sent for my vias*** and got two immunizations...they hurt a bit...so, basically I am really going to do this...still need to find a hotel in Hong Kong...it is huge city and can't decide where I want to be...the island or the mainland...each has something else to offer...so...meeting more of the faculty tomorrow at lunch...I am going to Vietnam. Wow that is a big one to say the least. So all the classes in Spanish will not help me there...reading some poetry about the people and country...off to see n,c,h over the holiday weekend near San Diego--now that will be fun...

The Moon in All Its Beauty

Saw a full moon tonight after dinner with l et al...pesto--best I have had! Had a great day with more decisions and planning for my trip to Vietnam and where I am going to stop for a layover...visa had to fix due to different address than origiially was given to me..oh well..ww at noon...art supplies...walked ...good day all in all

Sitting in My Little Tree House

My foot hurt today so I stayed home and rested...me and Sorrel...just us..did talk with l1 via Skype which is a fun way to connect over the river...Sorrel was in the camera frame a bit too...worked on my trip to Vietnam...some thinking about it anyway..

What a Wonderful Day

Went to see the Lion King Then watched "This is It" by Michael Jackson...talk about creativity...and music! I am overloaded with beauty, music, images, the spirit of creativity, and love nite nite

A Party for Me---Dear N,C,H,B,W

going to a party that nchbw planned...lots of stories and fun...thank you dear freinds; those who can come and those who can't...thanks for helping me the last two years in my new home away from home. even walked for 40 minutes this am...yea team. Yes that is "the bobcat"--sometimes it feels like she is two cats but she is only one....