Solar powered

Santa Barbara

(click on pic to enlarge)

As I walk, I notice a silver flash in the sky, a carrier of strangers from one place to another, closer to home there are spring flowers and growth all around.

Spring comes slowly though, a few flowers here, buds quietly opening, too soon for some, Im sure the frost is not yet done.

The grass across the fields and hills swathes the countryside in layers of green, an aftermath of the plentiful rains.

The sun is warm on my back today oh god, I realize in a flash I'm so solar powered it isnt true, Im tired of the cold even though I have seen precious little of the white stuff and realize it is selfish to complain.

All I know is that Im tired of my warm throws, sick to death of the jerseys and overcoats, my thick socks and furlined boots, and bored to tears of staring into a fireplace. I have no interest looking at bare trees, I need greenery and new leaves, the buzz of insects and the hum of a lawnmower.

The cold mornings swirling mist does not move me neither does the evening chill excite me, Im so done being closeted indoors.

oOo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

From the time they walked on stage, these 9 men from South Africa had us spellbound. Their deep harmonious voices lifted me and carried me right back to the days where I had sat with my father listening to men singing in the dusty African sunshine.





They remain as unsophisticated as they were when they started, their music is basic harmonizing, no musical instruments..just their voices. They danced, they taught us a song that had us singing along with them, and then they invited anyone to join them on stage for zulu dance..how could I refuse?

Meetings and Margarita's

Its a warm morning, the sky is clear at last and I can hear a lawn mower out there somewhere, a lot of tidying up and cleaning to be done after a stormy weekend. For some reason Im struggling to write. I think having made a decision not to blog for a few weeks, on Multiply anyway, its difficult to experience daily life with the view to relating it again on a blog..or something. However I refuse to let writers block (even if it is self inflicted) rule my life!

Last night we had the Big meeting at work, and it turned out to be a rollercoaster of emotion. I havent been working here for any real length of time, but the pain of the others was and is a tangible thing. Many of these girls have been here for 30-40 years, some have worked nowhere else. Mangement were kind and thoughtful throughout, but obviously many practical issues needed to be addressed, once this had been done (and all our jobs assured secure) the mood quickly shifted to the emotional loss everyone is experiencing, and this Im sure will only get worse as the time for closure gets closer. June 30th is the date!

One of our coworkers is leaving, going on a world trip for a year with her man, it was her birthday too which gave us a real excuse to get out there and celebrate..we followed each other convoy style down to the Beachside Cafe, and to the sounds of crashing waves outside had a wonderful few hours and managed not to talk to talk about work. Sylvia wrote us each the most beautifully personalized card, mine had a little pendant inside on the back was printed a little message, 'this is time for healing, the beginning of a rebirth' I couldnt have thought of anything more apt if I tried.

Beach Feet

"Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing,

of just going along,

listening to all the things you can't hear,

and not bothering."

*

~Pooh's Little Instruction Book

*****

BIG

On Monday we are having a BIG meeting at work, with all the BIG heads of dept from the BIG hospital downtown...

But I dont really think there will be any BIG surprises...

Catch up

The weather is slowly warming up, I have been constantly surprised at how cold the winters have been here in California. Today although its raining and overcast, the chill has left the air and walking this morning was a wonderful thing, and not a fight agaisnt the elements.

The Birth Centre where I work is closing, two doctors have resigned (retired actually) and there is not enough work for such a small unit to remain open. So we will all be moving down to the BIG hospital in Santa Barbara, the smaller more intimate unit was a wonderful reprieve after the hectic pace of Tucson..Im getting too old I think!!

Nic's leg is healing nicely, and I think he and Jen may well join me for Easter next month, I think he has another 2 weeks before the cast comes off, and then at least he can drive and get around on his own, its been pretty tough as he is not allowed to put any weight on it at all..he has gained 30lbs in the last 2 months!

We had a bit of a storm last night..so am in the process of sweeping up debris outside, and cleaning the godawful mess my dog made inside.

a view of our weather today: (copy and paste the link for a live webcam) http://207.154.99.109/view/index.shtml

oOo

A Moon Rising

Awakening

The vast journey from sleep to that soft transfer of thought is the most poignant time of the day. That time where dreams become memory become reality and where nothing I do could possibly hide me from the true state of my heart. Where my soul and my body are mine for this brief moment, every square inch of all their years belong to me. Sleep leaves and before I open my eyes the slow ghosts of change enhance the loss, encounters wash over me, seep into my soul and fill me to the brim. I hover here until the light lifts the mist and the brief perfection is loved into absence.

Love's Splendour

Love speaks to me in soft whispers

and bold declarations.

It calls on me to gaze in awe at her splendour

whether I want to see or not

Love seduces all of my senses

and can be as obvious as the striking good looks of a man

or as subtle as the charms

of a shaggy black dog with loving brown eyes.

It is then that I find beauty in the wonders of nature

more vibrant

more wonderous.

Love offers me a symphony of colours

with every sunrise and sunset

in every photograph

and every painting...

Love piques all of my senses at once

appealing to my taste buds

as well as my eyes and nose

my ears hear music differently

with more clarity and far deeper meaning.

The song is played just for me

Love makes me more sensitive too

easier to feel pain

easier still to cause hurt?

Yet love knows no fear

it is all conquerable and ever hopeful in all things.

Love in all its splendour

changes everything...



Happy Valentines Day