In the fog

This morning when I got up. I was sitting at my desk in my house and glanced out the window to see it was a beautifully foggy day. The view from my window was of the trees in my backyard and beyond (the tips of trees from several neighboring yards to the east). It was so beautiful the way the deep green trees closest to me seemed to fade the further away they got. And out there somewhere beyond the fog I knew there were more, many more. I love ironic scenes like this. So much so that I wish I could draw or paint worth a damn.

Anyway, I guess it all boils down to perspective. I decided to Google "can't see the trees through the fog". Ok so I got it a little wrong but Mr. Google knew what I meant. I went to a document that had the following Bible passage on it. Now for those of you who don't know my history, I was raised Catholic and when to Catholic school for 6 years. And not that that is the reason I shun most religions, but I tend to be one of those people who likes to stay neutral and live and let live. Not only that, but I despise anyone or anything that tells me "it's my way or the high way." Just ask my parents. ;-). Anyway, here is it. I love it. I love it because it gives me hope and direction. Two things most human beings need to find their way in the world. Ok back to work!

"Can’t See the Forest for the Trees"
Bible passage: I Corinthians 13:12-13 (The Message)

"We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long beforethe weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then; see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowingGod just as God knows us.

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation:Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."

Getting Old

"This is getting old" sort of sums up my week. The *company* I work for announced yet another major reorg. And once again my job seems to be safe for now, which in the current economy I am grateful for. But after 11 years, 8 of which have been been spent going through layoffs and reorgs it gets a little old after a while. But if anything it has taught me how to adjust and get creative.

The vet called about the cyst on Ben's elbow. Ben is my 13 year old black Labrador retriever who I adore. The good news is it's not cancer but the bad news is in order to remove the fast growing tumor they would need to do surgery and radiation (3x a week for 10 weeks) and there is no guarantee it wont' come back or that he would even survive the surgery. And then of course there are several complications not to mention the pain and discomfort of recovery after the operation. Oh and did I mention the cost? About $5000 for an operation that won't prolong his life or make him any better off than he is right now. The good news is that right now the tumor is relatively small and not causing him any pain. However, it will grow rapidly to the size of a football or bigger. At that point he will be in pain because the large mass will start to pull and stretch the muscle, etc. So the hubby and I agreed that we weren't going to put him through surgery. So we can only hope that the tumor doesn't grow as fast as they say it will. Because as soon as he is in pain, that is when we will have to say goodbye to our sweet Benny boy. Anything else would be selfish. I can't imagine him not being part of our family and I dread the pain it will cause my children and husband, not to mention his buddy Hogan (my 12 year old yellow lab). But we will cross that bridge when we get there. For now, I will enjoy him completely.

My grandmother is 82 years old and not doing well these days. Up until this point she has been as healthy as an ox. But a series of infections, a stroke, negative reactions to medicines, lack of appetite and macular degeneration that is robbing her of sight she is growing weaker regardless of the unyielding effort of my mother to keep her alive. Like my dog Ben, no one wants to see the ones they love suffer. So although I will miss my grandma when she is not walking the earth, I hope that she only continues to stay here with us as long as she is happy and healthy and not a minute more.

Old news, old dogs and old ladies. Sounds like a song.

Tag your it!

Oh cripes, I just realized that I was tagged and never tagged anyone back! My bad. Sorry Anna! Anyway, I was tagged for the first time by my dear friend Anna. I guess this makes me a Tag Virgin. So exciting!!!

Here are the rules:

• Link to the person who tagged you.
• Post the rules on your blog.
• Share six (6) non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself. I think that you can share things that you love!
• Tag at least 3 people at the end of your post and link to their blogs.
• Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Six Things About Me:

1. I love to golf when I have the time, although I'm not very good.
2. I have grown to hate cooking. But I make a mean cocktail. In a past life I think I was a mixologist.
3. In my house, I'm known as the SBD (silent but deadly) Queen.
4. I love to organize stuff. I like buying gadgets, boxes and bins. I'm not afraid to use a label maker.
5. I am a social butterfly who loves a good party. The more the merrier!
6. My greatest challenge and reward is raising my two daughters and my greatest accomplishment is marrying my husband. 13 years last month! We shall call him, Saint Geoff. ;-)

The people that I would like to tag are Katrina, Gina M., and Heather. I hope that you all accept the challenge!