Time for an update

I really don't have anything meaningful to blog about, but it's time for an update on what's been going on in my life.

TRAVEL:
Last week, I went to a convention in Chattanooga for our church database software. Chattanooga is a cool little town and southern hospitality is a real thing. Everyone was so nice and friendly. I'm such a geek for being as excited as I was about the classes -- how many people would be energized by the topics "Maintaining a Clean Database" and "Managing Classes and Small Groups"?

AIRLINES:
The flights there and back were just creepy! We were on very small jets (40-50 people), including one that taxied up to the gate with only one propeller working -- that's right, I said propeller! We were also delayed 4 1/2 hours in Charlotte because they first didn't have a plane, then didn't have a crew and finally didn't have a captain -- who wonders why the airline industry is in trouble??

GARDENS:

Gardening time is upon us and I've been busy planting and weeding. We've got lots of strawberry blossoms, which means lots of strawberries! I can hardly wait. They'll come and then the raspberries will be right behind them -- Yum! We're also getting about 1 1/2 pounds of asparagus every day -- enough to eat and freeze some, too!

AUNT GENE'S BIRTHDAY:

We're going to Cincinnati soon to celebrate Aunt Gene's 85th birthday! (If you're one of my boys and you haven't gotten her card yet, be sure to buy it and get it in the mail by Friday.) I might post a happy birthday message for her, but it would be a waste because she's a real technotard!

HEROES:
I'm ashamed to admit it, but I really got hooked on Heroes. The season finale was last night and they did, indeed, save the world (or at least a large chunk of New York City). I was disappointed in the ending though, because one of my favorite characters died. He can, however, return next year from death in true soap opera fashion, since he has the ability to regenerate. Does anyone else watch Heroes? What did you think of the ending?

Turner and the Muskrat

I haven't posted in a while -- I've just been busy with the usual routine, so there wasn't anything to comment on.

We had some excitement here last night, though -- Turner, the 75 pound dog, had close encounter with a muskrat. For about an hour & a half, he ran around the base of one of the pine trees barking and lunging at the muskrat, which was cornered and occasionally lunged back. Turner's legs and paws got cut by the brush & pine branches and when we finally got him out, we spent the next hour finding the cuts, getting the bleeding to stop, bandaging him up and cleaning blood off of him and the kitchen floor. It's so much fun having a big dog in the country!

There are always things to be thankful for, though: he's going to be okay, he's a little subdued today (always a good thing), it was a muskrat and not a skunk and that particular muskrat will never come to our house again!

Spring is REALLY here!

I've been so sad about the Virginia Tech massacre that I haven't felt like posting anything else and even felt it was a little inappropriate to take anything lightly in the wake of those deaths.

However, Spring has finally really arrived here in Michigan (though not yet in the UP). Today it was 60+, the peonies are coming up, grass is getting green and trees are beginning to leaf out. By 10:00 this morning I was out in the Beetle (she started up right away) and had rescued my first road-crossing turtle for the year!

Which brings me back full-circle to Virginia Tech. I think part of the reason I like gardening so much is that it puts me in synch with the earth's natural rhythms. No matter what horrible experiences we live through or we learn of, the days continue to get longer and warmer, the bug-eating birds return from wherever they go, trees leaf out and the earth (life) goes on, regardless -- just as it has for thousands of years. I find that more comforting than any of the platitudes or cliches that I hear people say. I find it as comforting as scripture because, for me, it's living scripture. It all works together to reassure me that God is sovereign, what seems so long to us is but a moment to Him and that it will, ultimately, all be well.

In the midst of life we are in death

They got up this morning and went to class -- the usual mind-dulling routine -- perhaps thinking of the snowy spring, summer jobs, lovers, upcoming projects or just wishing they'd slept in. Not one of them could have known it was their last morning of life.

Every parent shares with the parents of those students the pain too horrible to give voice to. The IM or text message that won't be coming. The waiting, hoping to be one of the blessed families, one of the survivor stories. Every one of us must stop and think of the brevity of life and how fragile we are. In the midst of life we are in death.

Stages of life, culture and stupid questions

I've observed that, just as we all have stages in life related to age, we also have stages in life related to our culture and stages in, what I call for lack of a better tag, stupid questions.

I remember when everyone I knew was getting married, having babies, and buying and decorating houses. Now everyone I know is buying a smaller house or redecorating their original one (because the kids have moved out) and is on a mission to get rid of stuff they spent years acquiring. I remember my parents doing exactly this same thing and, believe me, as creepy as it is to look like one's parents or sound like one's parents, it's equally creepy to do the same things one's parents have done! We all tend to (want to?) feel like we're moving into uncharted territory in our lives, but we're really only acting out the cycle that everyone else has acted out before us. As I play my part in this cycle, I think that, with both of my parents dying in their 60s, mortality is looming in the recesses of my mind. I'm not going to elaborate on that, though, except to say that it ties in to the stages of stupid questions . . . .

I'm amazed at how many times I've been asked lately if I have any grandchildren yet! I don't even have married children (but, apparently, I should) and I don't feel old enough mentally or physically to be a grandmother. I must have, though, developed the definitive wrinkle on my face that causes people to move me from mother-of-college-aged-children to the next level!! Not particularly flattering, to my mind and it just makes me feel old. Just as the questions once were "are you married yet?", "when are you going to have children?" or "when are you going back to work?", now I'm asked about grandchildren. I guess people ask these questions as openers or ice-breakers, but they just seem prying to me. I've never liked to interrogate others about their personal lives -- obviously, this is why I'm not good a small talk (and, also, why I don't want to be). I'm sincerely interested in other people, but I'd rather get to know what they think and feel than the current state of their family.

My youngest son told me recently that I don't update my blog often enough, my posts are too long and that I don't write about interesting things. I think the last point is proved out by today's post -- interesting to me, but probably not to a college sophomore. He is, though, living out both stages. All he needs to do is count the number of times he's asked "what's your major?" or "do you have a girlfriend?"

So, as you read this blog, ask yourself what stage you're in and what stupid questions you've been asked lately.

Thanks for visiting -- leave a comment!

Catching up

I haven't posted in a long time -- so I'll try to catch up in 60 seconds or less (which seems the be the amount of time someone will look at a page).

Spring is coming to some parts of the world -- but not to Michigan! Here is what our spring looks like:

And here's what spring looks like on other blogs I check daily:

London, England

San Francisco

Brighton, England

We're all so tired of cold and snow!!!! I'm afraid we're going to go from winter straight to summer and skip spring all together. I don't know what that will do to the garden . . . I don't care, though -- I just want the snow to stop!

Further news:
I had my 1,000th view last week. That won't seem like much to those of you who have blogged for years and have blog-iversaries, but I'm pretty excited. Especially since no one knows my blog is here!

Next item:
There was a fascinating piece in the news lately about Joshua Bell (winner of the Avery Fisher Prize) playing his violin for an hour in a Washington DC Metro station. He made $39 ($59 if you count a twenty thrown to him by a woman who recognized him as a world renowned violinist), and only a handful of people bothered to listen. Bell gave the money to the lady who loaned him the violin case to lay out in front of him for donations. I've always loved to stop and listen to buskers for a few minutes (always paying for the privilege) and enjoy the "free" concert. Maybe it goes back to listening to "For Free" by Joni Mitchell. Interestingly, Joshua Bell said he'll look at, listen to and think about buskers differently from now on. Why does our society always equate talent or value with celebrity? You can see the story here in the Washington Post, or listen to him interviewed here on NPR. Here's a review of his new violin CD.

Thanks for visiting -- leave a comment!

Great Blogs

I hope you'll check out the sites that I've linked to -- there are some really outstanding photographers (and, therefore, outstanding photos) out on the internet. I had some broken links, but have repaired them now -- so if you tried them before and couldn't link, try them again, please. Judith Polakoff has a amazing eye!

Back from Florida

I haven't posted in quite a while. We just got back from a long weekend visit to Florida. I got to see Charlie & check out where he's living (I approve), see Tom and Christy and meet Miss Lily (she's a sweetie) and go to a Tigers Spring training game (they beat the Washington Nationals in the bottom of the ninth -- a great finish)!

I'll post some pictures later -- we had a wonderful time, but it's good to be home. Now there's laundry to do and other stuff to get out of vacation mode and get in gear to go back to work tomorrow :-(.

Spring is FINALLY coming!

I haven't posted in a long time! It's just been so grey and gloomy and nothing has inspired me. Friday, though, I heard a sandhill crane flying over and today I heard a redwinged blackbird down by our pond. It was sunny and in the 50s here today. I know that doesn't seem very warm to those of you who live in Florida, California or Georgia, gentle readers, but it's cause for celebration here. I'm thinking of getting the Beetle out this weekend!

Some interesting sandhill facts: they mate for life (they can live to be 20) and usually only have 2 chicks a year. The males do a really crazy mating dance, jumping into the air and flapping their wings. Here's a picture of a pair of sandhills for your education and enjoyment.

Pictures of Lily

Now that Crit has posted some pictures of Lily on her blog, I can, too. I've been excited about this little one since the first moment I heard of her existence -- I'm almost surprised at how excited, considering I'm a great-aunt and not a grandma. What a blessing babies are (and, oh, don't those big cheeks look familiar)! I'm really happy for you, Christy & Tom. I'm so looking forward to seeing the three of you when we come down in March -- tell Lily her auntie's on her way soon!

Arnold Ziffel

The year of the pig (and the cute little pic I chose) made me think of one of my favorite pigs, Arnold Ziffel! Here he is, for all of you who remember him and, especially for those of you who don't.

Happy New Year!

Today marks the beginning of Chinese New Year -- and 2007 is the year of the pig. According to one site:

"Pig is a Lucky and Mild-tempered Animal
President Ronald Reagan was born in year of Pig. He was very happy to know that Pig is a very lucky animal in the Chinese horoscope. The Chinese see that pigs eat food all the time, enjoy sleeping all day long and worry about nothing during their entire lives. Therefore, pig is a lucky animal.

According to Chinese Five Element astrology, the animal sign Pig contains Water and Wood. Pig doesn't fight with Metal, because Metal, Water and Wood have a Circulating Relationship. Pig doesn't fight with Fire, because Water, Wood and Fire together have a Circulating Relationship as well.

But the Water element will fight with the Earth element. Earth animals are Cow, Dragon, Sheep and Dog. Cow contains Earth, Metal and Water. Cow and Pig don't fight directly, because Earth, Metal, Water and Wood are in a circulating sequence. We can find the similar circulating relationships between other Earth animals with the Pig, so it doesn't have a face-to-face conflict with the other animals.

Snake and Pig have a Fighting Relationship. But Snake contains Fire, Earth and Metal. If we put Snake and Pig together, we can still find Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal in a circulating sequence. This means that the fighting relationship between Snake and Pig is not that serious. The conclusion is that most of people born in year of Pig don't have any unyielding argument with other people. Since Pig-type people have more peaceful lifestyle than others, they are therefore luckier."

I was born in the year of the Snake. According to this site, in an explaination of the Chinese Zodiac, Snake people say little, are very wise, have financial fortune; but also can be vain, selfish & stingy. I'm glad (I guess) that I don't believe in Zodiacal truths.

So HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR, everyone!

the chickens' auntie seems to know everything . . .

I had some fun on the last two post's of jonemo's dailylondonphoto blog and got an honorable mention! Check it out here. I don't know everything, but I sure knew those two -- I LOVE LONDON!! The only bad thing about the daily photo blogs from England is that they make me want to be there all the time, even more than I already do.

Weird Al didn't win!

The Grammys are over and, sadly, Weird Al Yankovic's album "Straight Outta Lynwood" didn't win the Best Comedy category. As the mother of 3 boys, I've heard a lot of Weird Al and am disappointed by this, as I'm sure you all are. You can, however, catch this video of "White & Nerdy" from YouTube. I think this could be right there with "Amish Paradise" as one of my favorites. Enjoy (but beware -- it will be stuck in your head all day)!

Snow in South England

Today it was sunny and in the low to mid 20s and it felt downright balmy! People were walking outside without coats, just as though it was spring. Now I know why God sends us -9 degrees and a week of sub-zero windchills -- so we'll think 25 is warm!

We've had snow on the ground since right after New Year's; not alot, but enough to stay around. On the other hand, snow in the London area is so rare that all the bloggers take photos of it. Here's one of snow in Oxford from the Oxford Daily Photo blog I look at.

I think it would be great to live somewhere where snow was an enough of an oddity that it warranted comment. I guess we'd seldom have a white Christmas, though, and I'd miss that.

The Next Generation

No, not Star Trek . . . the first member of the next generation of our family! Last night at 9:35, Lillian Wayne Reynolds was born, weighing a chubby, but cute, 8 pounds and 13 ounces. Out of deference to her parents and grandparents, I'm not going to post a photo here and will allow them to post the first ones. Nevertheless, we're very excited and happy that everyone -- mother, father, daughter and, yes, even grandparents came through the delivery just fine(though I think the grandmother was touch and go for awhile). Happy Birthday, Lily!!

Daily Brighton Photo

This is cool! I look at the Daily Brighton Photo blog (Brighton, England, that is) every day. Dean Harvey, who publishes the blog, asked for guest photographers from Brighton and, when I asked him if Brighton, MI, USA was acceptable, he said yes. So I sent him a couple of photos from our ice storm and he posted one of them. Now I'm published on both sides of the Atlantic!

I might take some other shots of Brighton, MI to send along to Dean from time to time. If you haven't checked out all the daily phot sites, it's fun to do so -- there's a link to them on most of the bloggers' sites.

Winter, Mothers, Sons & Daughters

Yes, winter has returned to Michigan. We had an ice storm last week (when I took these photos) and have gotten a little snow (less than 1") every day since then. The winter sports people are happy, but no one else is. It's also been pretty cold in the teens & twenties. No wonder Charlie feels smart to have moved to Florida!

On another note, I've finally taken down the Christmas I never wanted to put up. For once, I'm really happy to have the house back to normal. I just never got in the mood -- perhaps if winter had graced us in December rather than January that would have made a difference. The only Christmas CD I listened to was Sufjan Stevens, and that was also in January -- after Christmas!

On a different note, we're all waiting for little Lily to arrive. Each generation's first baby is a great event! She'll be spoiled by everyone in a way that none of her subsequent siblings or cousins (once or twice removed) will be -- just as Paul was on my family's side (and Christy was, as the only girl) and Jim was on his dad's side. It will be a little sad for those who come after, but such is the way of the world.

Lily's pending arrival and the excitement leading up to it has also caused me to ponder the relationships of mothers and daughters, as compared to those of mothers and sons. It's always been fascinating to be out someplace, like the mall, and see a mother with a miniature version of herself at her side. I wonder what it would be like to have a daughter and see oneself mirrored there -- to see glimpses of one's own face, one's mannerisms or voice inflections copied and, ultimately, to realize that someone who shares your DNA will also share your experiences as a woman and, because of that, share a bond with you forever. It's like a chain with links from mother to daughter to daughter, with each a part of something that mothers without daughters can only imagine. I wonder if this is what Jim feels like when he looks at his 3 sons. I doubt it, since he doesn't ponder things in the same way I do. At any rate, in the end it's there's no gain in pondering it too much, because what is is.

So, hurry up, little Lily! I'm as anxious for your arrival as everyone else is. Arrive safely, but arrive soon. . .

Winter Has Returned

Well, our lovely, warm winter appears to be over. After months of almost snow-less, record-setting warmth, we're back to a typical Michigan winter. Snow, sleet, freezing rain and cold have returned. Today, we put the tarp roof on the chicken run so the girls will go out and get some air. Without it, when I open their door on snowy mornings, they look out at the snow and are too afraid to go out in it. There is real meaning to the insult "chicken".

Which puts me in mind of all the chicken-isms in our language: pecking order, spring chicken, tough as an old bird, going to bed with the chickens, hen pecked (just to name a few). You can easily think of more, if you try (or may start noticing now when you hear them). I think their presence goes back to the fact that, at one time, just about everyone -- country and city dwellers alike -- owned chickens as a handy source of eggs and meat.

On a happier note than our rotten weather, we booked our tickets for a long weekend in Florida in March. We'll get to visit Charlie, see Christy & Tom, meet new baby Lily and go to a Spring Training game (not to mention, getting to enjoy some warmer weather).

Today is Orthodox Christmas!

Because we have a Russian friend who is Orthodox, I'm conscious of the fact that not everyone adopts the Julian calendar and celebrates Christmas on December 25. So, Счастливое Рождество всем читателям (Happy Christmas to all readers)! Счастливое Рождество, Николэй!