one

The past several days have continuously surprised me with 1s.  The first day it happened, I think, was in my kitchen - I happened to look at the time on the oven.  It read 11:11.  I don't know why or exactly where this action originated, but at some point in my younger days it became a custom to kiss my finger to my lips, place it on the time display, and make a wish -- but only whenever it reads all 1s.  Well later that same day, after finishing whatever I was doing while paying no attention to the time, I walked back to the kitchen (hadn't been since) and noticed that the clock now read 1:11.  Since then, it has happened in some form just about every day, sometimes twice a day.  Catching me by surprise in moments where I was not thinking about numbers at all, not wondering if it might happen again, not looking for such a reoccurrence.  In the kitchen at another family's house while I was babysitting -- 1:11.  Happened to look at my odometer while driving to the grocery store: 1.11 miles.  There have been a few other instances that I cannot recall at the moment.  I've considered writing this post several times lately, but eventually shrug it off.

This morning I finally decided to check out my cousin's business page on Facebook, which has existed for over a year.  I was so tired that I chose to mindlessly yet thoroughly click through all posts and photos back to the beginning.  Clicked on a link to his fundraising page for a bike ride he did, and his goal was $1,111!  Tonight I am going through some of my iTunes library to decide if I can delete any songs, or at least rate them and add to playlists so it's a little more organized.  I opened up the column browser, which I pretty much never ever use, and scrolled down to the R&B section to see what was in there.  Listened to Al Green's greatest hits and was halfway through the best of Aretha Franklin when I saw the bottom of my iTunes window: 199 items, 10.8 hours, 1.11 GB.

What does it mean???

It is ever-present, following me.

I feel like it is the universe reminding me of its wonder, telling me, "The time is now."  Spurring me into action.  Time to make your wishes come true.

I'm also anxious that it's some sign meaning my days are numbered.

But really, both of the above are always true.  I don't need happenstance to tell me that.

Double rainbow all the way... 

if not now, when

Though thick clouds persist, the full moon does exist.

plus two

I am so excited.  In just a couple weeks, the two cats that live with Musicman's parents will get to come stay with us for a whole month!!  Our landlord said it was not a problem -- didn't even ask for specific dates or any kind of pet deposit.  I'm sure Jet & Jasmine will thoroughly enjoy watching the bunnies and baby mockingbirds in our backyard.  We just hope they stay out of the turtle tanks..

Yay, kitties are coming :)

reception!

I just had a 38-minute conversation.  On my cell phone.  At my house -- for the first time in six months!  This is super exciting because I have not been able to use my phone from home ever since we moved back in November!!  I've had terrible service in this house and generally in this neighborhood.  AT&T said I should try using a new SIM card (my old one still said Cingular on it and was probably from my first phone back around 2000..), but that somehow locked me out of the phone I had been using (grrr), so then I tried Musicman and his mom's old phones, but nothing changed.  It was pretty ridiculous for awhile.  Sometimes when I answered the phone we could get a few words in before the connection got crackly, and I'd try to fit in "I'll email you!", which became the main method of correspondence for me.  Eventually I signed up for a service where I can call other people's phones from my Skype account on my laptop, and it links to my number so it looks to them like I'm calling from my cell phone.  The $3/month is bearable, but I figured a long-term solution would involve me eventually getting a new phone.  I didn't want to pay more for the ability to have incoming calls routed to my Skype account so I could actually answer them from my computer as well.  So I haven't been answering my phone at home; I would just open Skype and call them right back.

Tonight, someone called and I decided to answer it for the first time in quite awhile.  I figured I would have a couple seconds to say "let me call you right back" before losing connection, but... it never happened.  Stayed crisp and clear, even when I experimented with walking around the house, which I was sure would drop the call.  Usually the signal bars fluctuate a lot while moving around, rarely staying above two bars.

I'm not sure what changed, but I really hope this sticks, and isn't just a tease!  

climb the tower

this -- from up there

today's horoscope

"You need to take care of your own business and try not to worry about anyone else right now -- in fact, it may be best for you to just take the day off! Your energy is best spent on quieter pursuits." 

surprise visits

Favorite moment from our day of yard work:
     Music man crouched down in front of me to trim a particularly thick bush-branch that I was unable to cut through.  A ladybug suddenly zipped by and landed on his hat.  A couple seconds later, a monarch butterfly flitted right between us, letting me admire it before flying away over the roof.  I turned back, and the ladybug was gone.

Perhaps they were playing tag, or hide-and-seek.. just enjoying the breezy sunshine together.  Celebrating warmth after the record-low temperatures this morning.  A gleeful Ladybug and carefree Butterfly.

Our animated neighbor from across the street, Juan, also stopped by unexpectedly, ringing the doorbell at 8:30pm with two plates full of leftovers from his wife's baby shower.  "You know Latin people, they always bring so much food!"  

perspective

Today marked five years since a close friend's last chemotherapy treatment.  One and a half months younger than I am, she has yet to enter her 30th year.

A close family friend, around my mother's age, begins her own cancer treatment this week.

(source)

four

Four years ago today, this wee little guy appeared in our driveway.

[pics from April 24-May 16, 2009] 

Happy Birthday, Junebug :)

goodness

I make smoothies almost every day.  A pitcher-full of thick, slurp-able goodness.  Oftentimes they are aesthetically unappealing, a dark greenish-brown concoction.  I get most excited when they turn out a surprisingly bright green, or dark red, or even orange.  I think each one is beautiful.  I am aware of the life-giving elements whirled together in its creation.  They are always delicious, except for that one time MusicMan thought it would be fine to throw some tomatoes in.  Today I started adding fresh-squeezed lemon juice.

The cool smoothness is enjoyable, but sometimes I just need to crunch and munch.  Last night I finished off the banana chips.  Today I was rummaging the pantry again.  In between and after my two pints of goodness today, munchies have consisted of: grape tomatoes, roasted macadamia nuts, dark chocolate, mini Altoids, blue corn chips, microwave popcorn.  Now I only have one mini-bag left, then I can start using my Whirley Pop.  Had TJ's crescent rolls for lunch, filled with pepperoni leftover from pizza party night, jalapeno, mozzarella & diced mushrooms.  My stomach doesn't quite know how to handle today's hodge-podge.  I was supposed to sauté the rest of the mushrooms tonight, with garlic and spinach.  Perhaps I will be less crunch-craving tomorrow.