Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: fun stuff


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Three Day Quote Challenge Day 2

UM and Ann Arbor 028Carol challenged me to post quotes for three days and nominate others to do the same along the way. If you read my post from yesterday you’ll know I’m breaking that rule about nominating others. I would, of course, enjoy reading quotes you’ve found…so if you decide to join this challenge let me know!

So…here’s quote #2:

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. – Albert Einstein

This one struck me because, as some of you know, I have three degrees. I like to spread school out, so though I went to undergraduate at Michigan State right after high school, I waited ten years to go back to school for my MBA from the University of Michigan – Flint. I did that while I was working full time and let me tell you I have no idea how I managed. I met some great people during the three year program, but I never really used any of it to advance my career. I graduated during a recession and was just lucky I had a job at all.

I waited more than 20 years to go back to school again. This time I was 50 and gave up my long time and lucrative career in mortgage banking to get a graduate degree in Information (otherwise known as Library Science.) from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I learned a ton, met even more really great people, and hoped I’d find work in a library near home. It didn’t turn out that way. I graduated in another recession and libraries were cutting budgets and letting employees go. I worked for almost a year in a library, but that was it. Back to the bank I went.

So what did I get out of all those extra years in school? Lots of friends. Great memories. A wider band of experience on which to base critical thinking. A bigger vision of the world. Fun.

In the end, it turns out, I just loved being in school. And if I could afford it I’d go back again. For me it’s not the degree so much as the experience of being with young people, talking about new things, expanding my idea of what is normal in the world today.

So I can’t say I agree with Mr. Einstein. I think education can be gotten in school…it just might not be the stuff on the syllabus or in the articles or lectures scheduled. It just might be that real education is the sum of the total experience.

It was that way for me. And I don’t regret any of it.

Graduation Day #3

Graduation Day #3


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Three Day Quote Challenge

Rules mama? There are rules?

Rules mama? There are rules?

Carol challenged me to post quotes on three days. As usual in these types of challenges I’m supposed to nominate 3 people to carry the challenge forward. That’s the hardest part for me.

Finding a quote is actually quite interesting. I’ve always admired those whose blog starts each time with a relevant quote. I’ve wondered where they find such appropriate quotes. Now I need to find a few myself.

What type of quote should I look for? Inspirational? Humorous? Pointed? I guess we’ll see how this all falls out.

So here is the Day 1 quote:

“If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” – Katharine Hepburn

I’ve always liked Katharine Hepburn, and now I know why. She’s right. I spent a good part of my life following all the rules. Mostly that was fine. But these days, lucky in retirement, I have begun to realize that not all rules are meant to be followed.

So the first rule I’m breaking is the nominating part of this challenge. If you, like me, would like to explore sources of inspirational, humorous, or pointed quotes…then share a few with us in the next few days.

I look forward to them all!


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Cee’s black & white photo challenge: Walkways, hallways, elevators

A photo from our recent DC trip seems to fit Cee’s challenge. While we were there we walked in a lot of hallways. Many of them were highly polished with white marble floors and walls. But the hallways I found most interesting were those below the Senate buildings, those with the exposed pipes, original brick walls and polished concrete floors. The hallways not meant to impress.

Below the Senate.

Below the Senate.


These kinds of details make for an interesting black and white image. Thanks Cee for challenging us to explore aspects of photography we don’t use every day!


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I’m impatient

Katie here.

Psst! Listen up!

Psst! Listen up!


You know, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. My parents need to stay home and pay attention to me. Sometimes I don’t even know why I put up with them, other than they give me supper. Which I guess is a pretty good reason to stick around. But frankly I think I deserve a lot more attention, and since they’ve been home from Washington DC I’ve been making my point.

Loudly. And often.

They are busy all the time and I just want to play. Mama and Dad keep asking each other if they brought the wrong sheltie home from camp, cause I’m a lot more vocal than I used to be. Well. That’s because they are ignoring me! What’s a princess to do?

Good catch!

Good catch!

So I tell them off regularly, and then when they tell me to go lie down I bring them a toy. Yesterday my dad threw my pink elephant for me a lot until I put it over on the other side of the room. I get to decide when it’s time to stop playing, not them. Right? You all have the same kind of rules don’t you?

Got it!

Got it!

I even got my mama to get out my tunnel yesterday and I sort of played “PIGGY IN THE TUNNEL!” with her. But not really. I’d either bring her the piggy but run outside the tunnel, or run through it and not bring the piggy out. She tried to play the game with my cow, and my lambie, my elfie, my pinkie, and my squirrel, but she should know you can’t play “PIGGY IN THE TUNNEL!” with anything except a piggy! Geeze mama!

Sometimes you embarrass me.

Anyway, my mama says that I am at least sleeping until a little later in the morning some of the time. She is not sure how that ‘fall back’ thing with the clock is going to work out this weekend though. She’s pretty sure shelties do not ‘fall back.’

Get it!

Get it!


I think I have almost gotten my folks back into sheltie-shape now. They’ve been home a week and they are talking about maybe taking me to the park if the wind dies down and the sun comes out. My mama is a wimp. She says she already doesn’t like winter. Yesterday it was only 42F (5.55C) and very windy so we came back inside very fast whenever I made them take me out.

Which I did regularly because I was bored.

Mine!

Mine!

A sheltie-girl has to do what she has to do….right? If they caught on faster that I need a lot of attention I wouldn’t have to parade them out in the cold so often. I think it’s pretty obvious, but I guess they are a little slow. Meanwhile, now that I’ve got them up and about I probably need to go catch a nap so that I’m ready for them when they think they’re going to sit down and read.

After all, I’m an anti-reading dog, and I’m always on duty.

Happy girl.

Happy girl.


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Walktober

Sunday afternoon stroll.

Sunday afternoon stroll.


Robin over at breezes at dawn challenges us each October to take a walk and then share it with all of you. Here it is October 25 and I haven’t shared a walk with anyone yet. It’s not that I haven’t been walking; certainly we walked a gazillion miles on our Canadian trip and another gazillion in DC last week. I just didn’t do all that with Walktober in mind.

So this morning I headed out into the October sunlight and visited one of my favorite places – the place where I always find something beautiful to photograph – Kensington Metro Park. My plan was to head out on the nature trails and see what I could see, but I was sucked into the incredible beauty along the bike path that circles the main lake so I stopped and walked there for awhile.

Right next to the parking lot was a family of sandhill cranes. Mama and Papa are on the left, this year’s child is on the right. They seemed unaffected by all the people snapping their photo. I think they will be on their way south very soon.

Family of three.

Family of three.

I love fall colors reflected in water and I wasn’t disappointed today. This shot was actually the reason I pulled over and parked earlier than I had planned. It’s a little bay area, with picnic tables under big oak trees.

I've had a picnic lunch out on this little spit of land in warmer days.

I’ve had a picnic lunch out on this little spit of land in warmer days.

I used to run on the bike path every weekend, around the beautiful lake. As I walked today I was remembering other times, running with friends, running alone, things I’ve seen on these hills and curves from many years of visiting this beautiful park.

Willow and water.

Willow and water.

Along the path I came across some bittersweet. I know it’s invasive, but it’s something my mom used to like to decorate with in fall and I don’t see it very often these days. As the weather cools the orange berries split and fold back, showing a yellowish center. Mom used to dry it and tuck it along the fireplace mantle. I always think of her when I find a bit of it on my wanderings.

Orange berry memories.

Orange berry memories.

I headed over to the nature trails to see what I might find. The sun was warm on my face and I was enjoyed being in the woods listening to the birds, watching chickadees and nuthatches flit about.

Nuthatch stops for a fleeting moment to say hi.

Nuthatch stops for a fleeting moment to say hi.

There were lots and lots of chipmunks running around in the dry leaves. They always sound so much bigger scrambling around under those leaves than they really are. I stopped and watched three of them chase each other around.

If I stay still you can't see me. Right?

If I stay still you can’t see me. Right?

The nature trail led through the woods and then opened up into a pretty little meadow with a couple of surprise maple trees still in full color.

A surprise punch of color.

A surprise punch of color.

I’m always happy when I see a bit of color that stands out.

Most of the maples are done, and now it's the oak trees' time to shine.

Most of the maples are done, and now it’s the oak trees’ time to shine.

This park has an amazing array of wildlife habitats, you can walk in rolling hills or around the lake or near wetlands. Everywhere you look there is something beautiful. No matter what time of year you visit.

More cranes out in the marsh.

More cranes out in the marsh.

New vignettes will catch your eye each time you walk through the park. It’s best to always have your camera handy.

Two trees.

Two trees.

This was the perfect place to visit after our busy week in Washington DC. I am grateful to Robin for suggesting Walktober. Just like last year I’m thinking I need to do a Walkovember next month.

A good spot for contemplation.

A good spot for contemplation.


Care to join me?

Last of the maple color.

Last of the maple color.


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WordPress photo challenge: (Extra)ordinary

Here it is Thursday night. Tomorrow a new photo challenge will arrive. Time to get back in gear! Since I was in Washington DC this week and since I love the metro system there so much I will use it as an example of something ordinary that is extraordinary.

I love that you can see the people inside.

I love that you can see the people inside on this shot.

Everybody on the trains has a story, and most of them are interesting. Everyone I talked to while riding to and from meetings was engaging; they were all people I enjoyed talking to. There wasn’t a rude one in the bunch. In fact the metro was indicative of the way people were all over DC.

Red pants on escalator.

Red pants on escalator.

Even later at night, when there were fewer people around I found the stations underground to be beautiful. What the natives see as ordinary I found simply extraordinary.

You can go to the original post, up in the link above, and see what other ordinary things people found extraordinary.

Feet were made for walking.

Feet were made for walking.


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Another shot missed

Sunshine, crisp golden light, maple leaves turning red and gold…how could I resist grabbing the camera and the dog and heading out over the frost covered lawn to the pond across the street. The trees in my neighbor’s yard were stunning in the sunshine.

Morning glow

Morning glow

And those across their pond were beautiful as well. Katie and I moved along the road looking for a spot to capture them.

Morning calm.

Morning calm.

I was focused on catching the light and the water while standing on the dog’s leash and listening for cars when I heard a soft, short grunt off to my right. I didn’t look right then, didn’t look until there was a rush of wings and a loud squawk.

A blue heron was lifting off of a submerged tree limb about 10 yards away. He’d probably been sitting there as Katie and I got closer and closer. He gave me a warning grunt and I didn’t listen.

So this is all I got:

Flying away.

Flying away.

I’ve been trying to get a great shot of a blue heron for years. Years. And there he was standing there next to me and I never even noticed. If I had glanced over at the first grunt I think there would have been an amazing shot. But I’ll never know.

Back at home moments after Katie and I came in four young deer crossed the road we had just been standing on. I don’t have a picture of them in the morning glow either. I was too busy trying to keep Katie from flinging herself against the windows to grab the camera.

Silly us.

Missed another one Mama!

Missed another one Mama!