The Faulty GPS route that lied to me...

Looking Back, Looking Forward

O'Malley & Daly

Today marks the one year anniversary of the day I had to put my beloved O’Malley to sleep and I have been reflecting on my life. So much has changed in the last 12-16 months that it feels like an eternity has passed. This last year (plus a few months) has been full of so many changes--highs, lows, stagnations, regressions, hurts, and happiness. I am currently weeks away from my 34th birthday. If you had told me a few years ago that I would be unemployed and living with my parents at this stage in my life I would have laughed in your face. This was not part of my life plan. By now I was supposed to be a successful business woman with a husband and kids (of both the fur and flesh variety). But here I sit trying to figure out what is next. Trying not to feel like a failure. Trying to find the motivation that I once had.

I’m on the cusp of finishing a degree that will launch me in an entirely different direction career-wise. This is both exciting and frightening. The lack of positive responses (and mostly, just lack of responses) in my quest for a summer practicum is extremely discouraging and has me questioning if this is the direction I am supposed to be heading. Or I am not committed enough—should I be spending time at an SDA university campus full time for my M.Div in chaplaincy? Should I join the military’s chaplaincy candidate program? But if I did, I worry about the responsibility I have as to my beautiful epileptic kitty Daly; will I not be able to give her the care she needs? She requires a lifetime (hers) commitment and I am willing to make the sacrifices financially and personally for that.


Where is the Easy Button?

St. Patrick's Day Weekend

This year one of my good friends and some of his friends came to Boston to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and invited me along. It has been several years since my one and only Southie Parade, so I was glad to be invited along to join in the weekend festivities. It was a fun, tiring weekend. I think I got more sun and did more walking around the past few days than in the whole of last year :)

I thought I would entertain anyone who decides to check out my blog with some songs that showed up this weekend, made me smile, and stuck in my head for one reason or another. They are in no particular order. Enjoy!

Tessie by Dropkick Murphys

Whiskey in the Jar

Alone With You by Jake Owen

Fight for Your Right to Party by Richard Cheese

Let's Do It by Ella Fitzgerald

Baby Got Back by Richard Cheese

Now it is time for laundry and to catch up on sleep so I can go back to work tomorrow. Gotta love these four day weekends.

10 AM

Day 5 is fairly self-explanatory. It is a sleepy Daly as the lock screen of my phone at 10 AM.

A Stranger

I am a fairly shy person when it comes to strangers. My classic line is, "My parents trained me so well that even 30+ years later, I still don't talk to strangers." I knew getting a picture of a stranger for the February Photo-A-Day challenge was going to be just that, a challenge. These days I spend most of my time at home, at work, or commuting back and forth so running into a stranger is not a common occurrence. Additionally, Day 4 was a Saturday which meant that my main tasks for the day would be church and homework in the evening. Now I usually take the free ride and carpool with my parents for the 50 mile ride to church (I know that seems excessive, but I enjoy getting to see all 3 of my living grandparents each week), but my mom was sick and Dad had been up all night with her. Since I was slated for my first public outing as the new church treasurer--giving the offering call--I couldn't forgo the trip and visit a closer church. But, I digress. Since I know the majority of the church members at least by sight, I couldn't snap a pic there. In the end I decided to go with a shot of the driver in the car behind me as I was about to turn into my neighborhood.

Hands

The inspiration for Day 3's photo was hands. I was thinking of taking a picture of Daly's paws or a close up of Titania's polydactyl pretties,but forgot to do so before leaving for work. In the end I chose to share a picture of my hands as they often are in my cold office--gloved.

Words

Here is my picture for day 2 of the Feb Photo A Day challenge. It is a photo of one of the texts I am reading for school. It is about Strategic-Focused Pastoral Counseling.

A (P)Interesting Thing to Do

A couple of days ago while browsing the wonderful time-suck that is Pinterist, I came across a fun looking Photo-A-Day guide for February. I would have probably forgotten all about it if a friend hadn't emailed me this morning encouraging me to do it with her (and her fans out in radioland). But with her encouragement, I've accepted the challenge. Additionally, since my blog is kind of on the slim side, I've decided to upload my daily photos here for anyone who may stumble upon it. (Of course, that is all based on the assumption that someone other than myself checks out my blog occasionally.) Anyway, Day One is "your view today". I was hoping to get a pic of the Boston skyline that I see everyday on my way in to work, but the soupy fog that lingered during my commute blocked it today. So, instead, I give you a picture from my 3rd floor office office window. I usually keep the blinds closed due to glare on the computer screens, but today I parted them for a few hours. Without further adieu here is my view of the Mass Pike, trees, and one of the other radio stations here on radio row.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Since I first woke up to Daly having a middle of the night seizure in mid-November last year, I have become hyper-alert to the noises she makes during the night. I wake to sounds of her drinking copious amounts of water, eating her dry food, shoveling around in the litter box, and playing obstacle course in the wrapping and tissue paper laden closet. I've also awoken to her having two more seizures. This morning, around 5:30, I heard a new sound. I couldn't place it but knew it was a sound that involved Daly. I quickly turned on the bedside light and turned towards the sounds. I was greeted by Daly squirming her way out of my dresser drawer! I had left it cracked open and she took advantage of the cave-like comfort it provided.