Thursday, January 31, 2013

Those who follow my blog regularly are aware that I’m am avid reader, logging a minimum of 1200 read pages per month. So what kinds of things do I read? Just about everything. Course, my favorite items to read are books—lots and lots of books. There’s just something intoxicating about an “old-fashioned” book that when you crack the cover a pleasing scent of older pages printed with actual ink is released. And let’s not forget the crackling sound the pages make when turned.

So what am I currently reading? It’s an older title—much older—by James Cavell, called King Rat. Some of Cavell’s books can be a chore to get into, their beginnings—the first hundred pages or so—tedious. But that’s not the case with this book. Right from the start, the reader is drawn into the story.

The storyline is brutal, compelling and shows a compassionate side of those bent on one thing—surviving under the harshest circumstances. It tells of bonds individuals make in order to ensure survival. Of how some of those friendships become much more than just a means of survival. They blossom into deeper relationships that have real meaning.

The tale tells of deals made. Shrewd business dealings, oft thought to be cold, yet to some are seen merely as outsmarting those who would do the same if given the opportunity. It highlights cultural differences such as how a compliment offered by one might be perceived as the greatest insult to another. The story progresses, revealing how unlikely individuals, tossed together by relentless circumstances, manage to hold their tempers long enough to weed through those cultural differences in order to make their dreary existences more tolerable.

King Rat is a story of cunning, perseverance and the strongest desire to survive—no matter what the obstacles. It’s a good read. A fast one that helps us remember what the important things in life are. And frankly, I can’t think of a better way to be reminded of those things than by curling up with a good old-fashioned book. 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Learning Lea (entry 9)

Carl pulled back, his face growing serious, his hand suddenly around her throat, not in threatening way—not yet, but enough to get her attention. Lea smiled. She liked it when Carl took charge. “Ah, ah, ah,” he said. “None of that. I want to grow hard in your mouth.”

Feeling playful and a tad deviant, Lea tried to stroke him with her free hand. Carl clasped her wrist with an iron hold. “I see you’re feeling full of yourself tonight,” he said, as he slipped his other hand from around her throat to grab a handful of her hair at the base of her scalp. He rolled onto his back and directed Lea’s head over his partial erection. Once he had her in position, he said, “Put me in your mouth.”

Lea looked down at her prize and could tell Carl was using great control to keep himself partially soft. It made her happy to realize she’d have Carl in her mouth longer, him fighting to remain partially soft. Urgings stirred deep within her, as she slid him into her mouth.

Tune in tomorrow to see what happens next….

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

So far, I’ve made seven entries to my latest story, Learning Lea. Today, I’ll continue where I last left off. If, prior to reading today’s entry—or after reading it—you’re interested in what’s happened up to this point, please feel free to read my previous entries.

            Without further delay…

Learning Lea (entry 8)

In a movement so swift it made her mind spin, Carl straddled her. One minute, he was behind Lea. The next, atop her, pinning her shoulders down with his powerful hands while his mouth continued to explore her front. Closing her eyes, Lea’s mind slid to nothingness. All she felt was what Carl did to her. How her body reacted.

Carl’s lips traced delicate kisses down the side of Lea’s neck, across her shoulders and then to the rise of her full breasts. He paused over one nipple. Lea opened her eyes and caught Carl gazing deep into hers…watching…teasing…building her anticipation. She watched his lips part ever so slightly, exposing the tip of his tongue. Even in the dim moonlight that filtered through the blinds, Lea could see Carl’s tongue glisten with moisture, his mouth literally watering over the thought of her.

When Carl pressed his groin against hers, Lea felt his excitement. Though hard, he still hadn’t grown to his full length. Carl flicked his tongue over the tip of her erect nipple. Lea’s breath caught. Her own body grew moist as she pressed herself against his hardness.

Stay tuned to find out what happens next….

Monday, January 28, 2013

Thought I’d change up things a bit with my blog.  Since folks keep coming back to read the latest entries from my story, Learning Lea, I’ll continue making those posts interspersed with my philosophical entries. But, since not many viewers log in on the weekends, I will no longer be making posts on Saturdays or Sundays. Simple matter of numbers. No sense writing and posting entries when so few log in on those days.  So, beginning with this week, my new blog format will be daily entries Monday-Friday. Those will be comprised of entries from my creative stories as well as some philosophical entries.

Please tune in tomorrow to pick up where we left off Friday with Learning Lea.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Lea didn’t get it.  Try as she might, she couldn’t seem to grasp how others flowed so effortlessly through life.  She wanted their key. Their understanding. Their ability to make sense of what, to her, seemed like a foreign language or worse, as if she’d been plucked from the face of one planet and plunked down on another where nothing made sense.

So Lea was an observer. She studied the mannerisms of others as if she had a master’s degree in people watching. Nothing they did, said or gestured missed Lea’s scrutiny. Yet, though she absorbed it all, making sense of what she saw and heard…that was the hard part, requiring a PhD that Lea just didn’t possess.

But Lea was bright.  Being gifted with higher intelligence than most didn’t always help her translate what she’d observed into something she could understand, but it did allow her to seem to fit in—most of the time. And that was okay. Though Lea would have preferred gaining that PhD in people watching, she was more than content with her master’s degree ability to mimic what she heard and saw so she could muddle her way through life without raising too much suspicion. After all, Lea needed to stay off the radar.

Carl pulled Lea from her thoughts by placing a gentle kiss on the back of her neck. He began at her hairline and traced his way down her spine. In response, Lea’s body covered with a blanket of gooseflesh. Her nipples grew hard. Her breathing increased. Carl’s lips strayed from Lea’s spine. There was a moment of nothing and then…Carl bit Lea’s side. Not hard enough to break the skin, but hard enough for her to gasp. Lea’s mind became a blur of pain and pleasure, the delicious cocktail of which stirred urgings down low, making her wet. Carl’s hands circled round her, each finding an erect nipple to pinch. Lea cried out, no longer concerned about voicing her pleasure.

Stay tuned to see what happens next….

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Well, since I didn’t get any responses—good or bad—to my blog yesterday, inquiring how folks felt about my latest story, Learning Lea, I suppose I’ll carry on with it. So without further ado….

Learning Lea

Growing up, Lea had anything but the sheltered life, yet the perceptions she held and beliefs she clung to were seasoned with an irresistible innocence rare in someone who’d gone through all she had…. One of those perceptions was that nice women weren’t loud during sex. Only tramps and whores cried out their pleasure. Carl had taught her otherwise. And for that, Lea had been grateful.

To finally be able to express her pleasure…. Lea shook her head at how liberating that had felt…continued to feel.  And yet, there were times, as with tonight, when Carl had to gently remind her that it was okay to make noise. To let him hear how much she enjoyed what she was feeling.

It was as if whenever Lea’s change had her slip between realities, her re-emersion to being just her was an awkward one.  As if with the transformation, old habits and misperceptions clung to her like a protective cloak, masking how she really felt. Shielding her from the indelible marks society and its mystery left on her.

That’s how Lea felt much of the time—that life was a mystery.  Those around her had the key of how to act and proceed through life with grace while she stumbled and faltered her way along, each step taken a struggle to maintain her balance. It seemed—had always appeared—that Lea saw the world through eyes different than those around her. Many times she trusted, only to find out later that trust had been misplaced. Other occasions found her acting in good faith, her gestures being misconstrued by others as…wrong. They weren’t wrong, just…naïve.

Check back tomorrow to see what happens next…. 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Thus for, I’ve made five entries from my latest story, Learning Lea. I’m having fun writing and sharing excerpts from the story but am unsure how it’s being received. From my blog stats, I know that folks are tuning in and, I assume, reading my posts.  But I’m not sure of their reactions.

Are readers are bored with my latest story? Intrigued? Put off by it? Like it? Would like me to stop and move onto something else? Or are folks interested in finding out more about Learning Lea?

Since I write this blog for the readers who tune in daily, I’d like to know which direction they would prefer I go. Once I get some feedback, I will make the appropriate adjustments, if needed, and carry on.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Continuing on with my latest story, Learning Lea....

Learning Lea

Lea tried to roll over, to face him, but Carl wrapped his arm around her and held her in place with ease. Lea gave in, knowing what this meant. Tonight was to be her night—a night devoted to pleasing her. Yes, Carl would be satisfied as well, but that wasn’t his goal—not tonight. The way his hands traced her body, cupped first one breast and then the other, giving each nipple a slight pinch, caused Lea to let loose a slight growl. She couldn’t help it. The sound vibrated deep in the back of her throat. 

“Open your mouth,” Carl urged.

Lea smiled. Once a quiet lover who resisted making the smallest sounds of pleasure, she’d been resistant to making any noise. But Carl was patient. A good teacher. Whenever Lea clenched her jaw shut and growled, her way of withholding sounds of pleasure, Carl would coax her to open her mouth. Lea was surprised by how much Carl enjoyed hearing her pleasure. How much it excited him. Spurred him on to…to.... 

Tune in tomorrow to find out more about Lea.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Since today begins a new week, I thought I’d kick off the week with a new entry from my latest story, Learning Lea.  Without further ado.

Learning Lea

Carl stroked her hair.  The sensation of his hand pressing against the side of her head comforted Lea, causing her to snuggle into his touch. A soft moan escaped her throat. But as much as she enjoyed Carl’s touch, another part, one that dwelled deep within her, cried out, “No. Please. Don’t touch me with kindness. I’m not worthy. You don’t understand. The things I’ve done.... Want to do…. Think about—all the time….

Lea felt Carl scotch his body closer to hers. He pressed against her, making her aware of his arousal. “You asleep?” he asked, his voice no longer tinged with sleep. His need for her rolled off his tongue, each spoken word dripping with his desire.

No matter what Lea was feeling at the time, it all faded to a blurred oblivion whenever she heard the lust in Carl’s voice. His desire called to her like a perfect symphony, each note being played to perfection, lulling her with its precision.

Lea shivered. Not from the cold but from anticipation. “No,” she said, as she pressed her hips back, nestling their bodies closer together.

Carl nuzzled the back of her neck, tracing upward to behind her ear. Lea’s breath caught. She reached back and grabbed the outside of his thigh, its muscled definition giving way only slightly to her touch. She squeezed harder and sighed when she heard him suck in air all at once.

Tune in tomorrow to find out what happens next….

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Today was absolutely magical!

When I was a little girl, there was a TV shoe called, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom that weekly depicted wondrous glimpses of nature’s animals. The show always ended with a take down/kill, me fleeing from the room just prior, not wanting to witness Bambi or whoever get killed and subsequently eaten.

I only got to watch the show every other week, while staying with my father. I loved that show! Whenever the program focused on pods of whales, I’d promise myself that someday…somehow I’d get to witness the beauty of whales—in person.

When I moved to my current beach house, a lifelong dream, I began looking into local whale watching boat and also helicopter tours. I wanted to make my little girl dream of personally spotting whales become a reality.

Today was a gorgeous day, sunny and warm, brilliant enough that people flocked to my beach to soak up some fun in the sun, myself amongst them. Not long after arriving at the beach, I caught sight of something I’d never seen before—least not in person. Straining to see it again, I was rewarded and realized that what I had just seen was a whale blowing water out of its blowhole, right in front of me, just on the other side of the waves!

OMG!

My mind reeled with the wondrous beauty before me. I scanned the water, hoping to again see proof that a whale was right there. What greeted me was more than I could’ve ever hoped for. There, right in front of me, was an entire pod of whales, swimming along at a graceful pace, spouting water from their blowholes every once in a while.

Sooooo cool!

As I continued to look on, the whales moved a little father offshore, picking up their pace. Then I realized they were likely killer whales. Why? Well, just as in the Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom shows of my youth, the mighty mammals began to arch their way out of the water then come crashing down—over and over again—all in a centralized area. Then came the birds. Just a few at first, but then their numbers grew. Similar to watching flocks of sea birds trail behind a fishing boat, what I was witnessing were killer whales killing their food, the birds coming to pick up what scraps the whales left behind.

Nothing to waste….

Unlike when I was a little girl, I couldn’t take my eyes off what played out before me. It was surreal, like watching a movie, though my brain kept reminding me it was real, not some cinematic bedazzler. It was soooooo much more than I could’ve ever hoped for! Allowed my little girl hopes and dreams of seeing whales up-close-and-personal become a reality. Made today absolutely magical!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Still taking a break from posting new excerpts from my latest story, Learning Lea. Will resume with my story posts next week. 

As I’m prone to do, I was sifting through collected fortunes I’ve gotten, reading their messages. One struck a chord in me, saying, “You find beauty in ordinary things. Do not lose this ability.” The fortune made me smile, as much as it did back when I first pulled that slip of paper from its crunchy cookie.

The fortune couldn’t be more fitting—least for me. Some might say otherwise, but those who know me—really and truly know me—are always commenting on I get the greatest joy out of the simplest things. Guess you could call them ordinary, though I prefer to think of them as little gifts that capture my full attention and make me smile from the inside out.

So what kinds of ordinary things do I find beautiful? The sun dipping behind the islands across my beach, as the day winds down, giving way to the dark veil of night. How the sun explodes into a literal colorful pallet of breath taking colors for up to half an hour after the sun sets, painting hues of blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, black, grey, etc across the sky, bringing alive everything in the fore and backgrounds. Watching an animal at rest. Glimpsing birds doing what they do best—busying themselves with staying alive. Watching hawks play in thermals. Dolphins arching gracefully out of the water. Seals peeking their heads out of the water to see what’s above the surface. The way the sunlight glistens on dewdrops that cling to nature’s garden of wonders. Observing children at play. Watching a couple hold hands or embrace. The crevices and knots found in tree bark. How sunlight shimmers over the surface of water, almost blinding in its beauty. The endless array of colors nature puts on display for us every time we take the opportunity to notice them. Finding hidden treasures in those items cast aside by others. And the list goes on and on.

Like I said, some may call these things ordinary, though I prefer to think of them as valued gifts that capture my full attention and make me smile from the inside out.

Friday, January 18, 2013

There are times that call for reflection. Sometimes, more than others. Things that make us laugh…or cry…or celebrate…or stop and ponder, those are worthy of reflection. Why? Because when we take the time to reflect on things, they make a deeper more lasting impression on us.

Being affected by those things we partake of is a good thing. No matter whether those things bring us happiness, regret or just plain retroflection, allowing them to sink in to a deeper level allows us to more readily go outside ourselves to view things on a broader spectrum.

It’s when we surface react to things, meaning we make our way through them without letting their implications, etc take hold, that we live on a shallower plain, one where we tend to focus more on ourselves rather than those things that surround us and how we affect those around us.

So why not take the time to reflect? Let life’s elements and occurrences sink in on a deeper level? One that takes us away from how we perceive the world and allows us to view the world—and its inhabitants—on a broader plain?

What do we have to lose? It’s not as if taking the time to reflect will prohibit us from laughing…crying…celebrating…or stopping to ponder. And besides, we might just learn a thing or two about ourselves—and those around us—that we might otherwise have missed.       

Thursday, January 17, 2013

When I left off last with my newest story, Learning Lea, Lea is in bed with Carl. But Lea isn’t at peace. How could she be when her body is going through a metamorphosis where her alabaster skin darkens and becomes covered in spots just as her nails lengthen to dangerous claws?

But then, something happens. Continue reading to se what becomes of Lea when Carl touches her.

Learning Lea

She had no idea how long she laid there, feeling her metamorphosis slip in and out like the dimmer on a light switch being turned first one way and then the next.  Each rotation of the knob either intensified Lea’s transformation or caused it to fade, morphing her china doll alabaster skin back to its flawless state.

The razor tips of her nails receded to smooth rounded edges. The spots faded, going…Lea knew not where. She didn’t need to know. Not really. Lea was content with the knowledge that the blemishes left—could leave—at all.

Each time she went through the change, Lea worried it might be the last.  That this time might be the one where the spots would remain—forever.  That her alabaster skin would be a mere memory, replaced by silky tan fur decorated with chocolate brown splotches that were outlined in black smudges.

Lea’s rapid-firing brain began to slow. With each breath she took, her body relaxed. The tension she’d been carrying slipped away. Each of her troubled memories lifted from her like layers of sheer fabric being pulled away, until all the remained was…her…Lea.  Not the spotted being she’d been mere moments before.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Prior to my taking a much-needed hiatus over the holiday, I’d begun posting bits of my latest story, Learning Lea. Today, I’ll repost all excerpts I’d previously posted. This will refresh folks’ memory of what’s happened in the story before I carry on with it.

Without further delay, here’s what I’d already posted.

Learning Lea

Lea rolled onto her side, the mattress creaking in the process. Her legs curled close to her body, her feet intertwined. A chill caught Lea, causing her muscles to flex. She was careful to prevent her razor sharp nails from slicing through the sheets and fought the urge to shiver, lest she wake Carl who spooned her from behind. She didn’t want to alert him to her distress…not again…. So she lay there, as her mind raced—an incessant cesspool of thoughts and images that consumed her, leaving her no escape. In the end, that’s all Lea wanted—to escape. 

For as long as she could recall, Lea sought peace…quiet…calm—a respite from the indelible mark society and its mystery left on her. Each day, she went out in the world, became a part of it, or so it appeared to those interested enough to take a second look. That was all Lea needed—to fool onlookers long enough to leave an impression that she was one of them.

Lea scooted apart from Carl. But, as she suspected, the effort was futile, for even in his slumber, Carl sought her out. His need to touch her usually comforted Lea. But not tonight. It was at times like these that Lea needed space. 

Knowing that if she remained in bed, she had no choice, Lea let Carl touch her, attempting to numb her body to the feel of him against her. She succeeded—mostly. Relaxing a bit, the edges of her reality began to shift in and out.  Similar to the focus being adjusted on a camera lens, what Lea saw, as she lay there in the dark, became fine-tuned and then…not.

She stared up at the skylight off to her side. Tried to focus on the moonlight that streamed through its bubbled dome. They cast bands of light, which illuminated half the room. Focusing was good.  Lea felt her hands and feet relax, their nails retracting, no longer on edge, ready to shred and tear.  

It was as if she stepped out of her body and stood alongside the bed. What Lea saw didn’t surprise her, though she wished it had. Too many times she’d been here. Experienced her…change.

Lea watched her alabaster skin morph. One second it was as pure and unmarked as a china doll’s. The next, the faintest outline of texture appeared. Then came the blemishes—spots. Just a few at first. But as Lea continued to glimpse herself, the spots increased, covering her exposed flesh with a blanket of evenly spaced dark chocolate splotches, each outlined in a smudge of black, that contrasted her now golden fur.

Carl stirred behind Lea. She froze. Slowed her breathing to barely at all, focusing all her energy on maintaining the illusion that everything was all right. No need to involve Carl this time in her struggle.

Carl’s sleep-filled voice cooed, “You okay, baby?”

“Mmmhmm,” Lea replied. Her response was rushed. She answered quickly in the hopes that Carl would buy her deceit. He could be unnervingly astute—Carl. Could detect the slightest change in Lea’s tone, body language or facial expressions. Well, he could when he wasn’t half asleep. Lea hoped Carl’s groggy mind wouldn’t be as perceptive as usual and would allow him to slip back into a deep slumber. It did. Satisfied that she’d fooled Carl into believing she was fine, Lea let out the breath she’d been holding with measured care.

Stay tuned to read what happens next in Learning Lea. 

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

People may think that once a person gets in shape, it’s easy for them to maintain such. It can be. But just as with other aspects of our lives, many influences measure whether we’ll maintain top physical shape…or…slack a bit. 

The hustle and bustle of everyday life is enough to challenge even the most devote to keeping in shape. But, add to that additional stress, illness, life changes, etc, and you’ve got a cocktail for pounds and inches creeping back on that you’d rather not see return.

For me, a person who loves to work out, I find great comfort in doing so. The added benefits I gain to help strengthen and reinforce my injured areas is icing on my physical workout cake. But, just as others find it hard to balance life, kids, family and work while squeezing in routine workouts, so do I. 

Over the past six months, I haven’t been able to work out as regularly as I’d like. Part of that was due to time constraints. But more stemmed from the emotional drain I felt due to my divorce, moving out on my own and buying my own house. So…time between workouts got a little…broader while the intensity of said workouts diminished. 

Lucky me…since I’d been in top physical condition due to running marathons, etc, my physical appearance appeared the same…for a long spell. But, sooner or later, diminished physical exercise coupled with bucket loads of stress was bound to take their toll. 

My friends and loved ones assure me I look fine. But to me, looks aren’t enough. I know that I must hold myself to a higher standard of staying in shape than most. Why? Because I have multiple lifelong injuries. So, where others might think gaining five to ten pounds is no big deal, to me, it can mean the difference between navigating through my day with ease or hurting every step of the way.

I’m not a fan of the latter, so, now that life has finally settled into a workable routine, I’ve resumed my workouts. This time, however, I won’t be striving to run any marathons. Not saying one isn’t in my future, just that I’m no longer setting my entire workout routine towards that end. Remaining dedicated—at first—isn’t easy. But I’m determined to reclaim control of being physically fit so I can make it through my days relatively pain free.

And, just like any other person who’s slacked with their workouts, getting back in a routine is hard. The biggest challenge is to psyche myself up to a daily workout—one that will help strengthen, tone and firm my body to the shape it needs to be in order to protect my injured parts.

Took some doing, but I’ve come up with modified workouts that I think will accomplish my goal. Course, time will tell. But for now, I’m just happy to be working out again—daily. Pushing my body hard, yet not so hard as to risk hurting it. With so much of my life having changed—drastically—over the past year and a half, it feels good to reclaim control over this part of my ever-evolving life. 

Monday, January 14, 2013

Not sure about how others wake up, but I stumble my way to the coffee pot, not much registering in my brain until I take my first sip. So, imagine my surprise when, after having drank one and a half larger mugs of coffee, what to my wondering eyes should appear on my hallway wall but the images captured in the video I’ve attached with this blog.

Though I’ve lived in my house four months now, I’ve never witnessed this phenomenon before. And, had I not noticed it in the five-minute window it occurred, I wouldn’t have seen it at all.

Nothing like a full color spectrum dancing on the hallway wall to capture my full attention. When I saw it, I had to stop and stare, blinking my eyes several times, wondering if what I was seeing was real or some figment of my still sleep-filled brain acting out in Technicolor on my wall.

LOL.

In record time, my brain snapped fully awake with me rushing for my camera, lest my houseful of still sleeping guests think I’d hallucinated the whole thing. Satisfied that I’d gotten some great pictures and also this video and realizing that my rainbow wall image was waning, I tried to figure out just what was causing it. 

In my living room—the adjoining room to this hallway—I have a vaulted ceiling with two solar tubes that let in additional light. In each of those solar tubes is some sort of lens that spreads the light over a broader area than with traditional skylight’s. From what I could decipher, the lens from the farthest solar tube caught and refracted the light just so as to create the dancing full color spectrum on my hallway wall.

Super cool!

Since this video, I haven’t again witnessed my dancing wall rainbow, though I’ve looked for it. Must be that the exact conditions existed that day and time to create the wonderful rainbow display I captured on video and am sharing here.

Hope you enjoy these images, and I wonder if anyone else has ever witnessed something similar.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

I began yesterday’s blog, telling how I celebrated my oldest son’s birthday. Of how we discovered a usually hidden-under-tons-of-water, mile-long, tide pool area at a nearby beach. We made our discovery quite by chance when we opted to begin a hike from that beach. But rewarded with such an unearthing that just so happened to unveil itself due to the lowest tide of the year on my son’s actual birthday, well…

My son and I never made it beyond the tide pool area to continue on with our hike. Instead, we spent the next several hours, combing all its nooks and crannies. In them, we spotted an octopus, an endless supply of starfish, including pink, black, tan, chocolate brown and pumpkin orange ones and a colorful spectrum of sea anemones.

Included with this blog is a picture of one of those. I spotted its neon green underbelly as the sea anemone, clinging to the side of a normally submerged wall, hung up side down. There were a mere six inches between it and the sand, so I’m surprised I noticed it at all. 

But I did, its neon greenness calling to me. I wondered if it was a brightly colored piece of algae, similar to what grew plentifully in the rest of the tide pool. Without knowing for sure, I decided to take a chance to capture its image. It was a bit dicey trying to snap a picture of the anemone without getting my phone in the water.  I still hadn’t the slightest idea what the inside of the anemone actually looked like but carried on with my quest. Perseverance paid off. What you see is, I was rewarded with after I snapped a photo of the anemone in all its stunning beauty.

Sometimes, it pays to take a closer look at those things that capture our attention.  

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Yesterday was my oldest son’s birthday. When I asked him what activity he wanted to do to celebrate, he said he’d like to go for a hike, though nothing with any significant elevation climb. I thought about that and suggested we begin at the beach where there’s a trailhead that lead thirty miles up into the mountains. Course, I emphasized how I didn’t expect us to go anywhere near that far on our hike. 

My son liked my suggestion, so we headed out. Upon arriving at the beach, I was surprised to see how far out the tide was. Though I’ve become an avid tide chart enthusiast, watching for low tides so I can gather sea glass and seashells, I’d never seen the tide this low.

So just how far out was the water? Far enough to expose an entire tide pool area that spanned a mile in length and was usually completely concealed way under the water. 

Both my son and I are avid tide pool explorers and love to take whatever opportunities to explore them. So, when faced with this newly revealed tide pool area, we jumped at the chance to see what treasures might be hidden.

Tune in tomorrow to see what we discovered.  

Friday, January 11, 2013

While repositioning my watering hose the other morning, I had to smile. Why? Because a woman, walking her dog, paused behind my yard. Then she clucked her tongue and commented, “Mmm, mmm, mmm, my aren’t you little fellas a pretty bunch and oh, so active.”  She was referring to the virtual wild songbird sanctuary that came with my house.

Where I live at the beach shore, there are a few songbirds here and there. But…for some reason, I have a legion of at least one hundred most times in my backyard. I love, love, love having this many songbirds call my backyard their home! There’s nothing better than waking to the sound of their serenading and also making my way through my day, the birds’ constant chirping a warm addition to my tropical backyard.

Some might not be as pleased to have this abundance of birds call their small backyard home. But me, I’ve always been a bird lover.  So, for as long as this is my home, I’ll continue to welcome my feathered friends and smile at how others stop to appreciate them in my fluttering around my yard.  

Thursday, January 10, 2013

There are some moments in life worth taking the time to appreciate. Case in point, a few nights ago, I went to drop something in my outdoor trash after watching a movie on TV. It was 12:30 AM and chilly out, so I had my house windows closed. As soon as I opened my front door, the ocean’s waves sounded as if they were crashing against my door. 

Awesome!

I grabbed a jacket and meandered to the sand and then on down to the water. Though unnoticed by the masses, I soaked up every bit of the show Mother Nature put on. A gentle breeze kissed my skin and wove its way through my hair while churning white foam rushed to the shore after waves curled over. Sparkling moonlight danced on the water’s surface as millions of twinkling stars shone down from above, appearing as if all the world’s tiny white Christmas lights had been tossed up in the sky where they’d remain until next Christmas. I scarcely blinked, not wanting to miss a second of the beauty that played out before me.

Like I said, there are some moments in life worth taking the time to appreciate. I’m glad I didn’t miss this one.