To the First Day of DST in 2011

From the last weekend in February to the first day of Daylight Savings Time for 2011. Where did the last two weeks go?

Well, last weekend was one of playing (imbibing) too much - something that is getting harder to recover from the older I get! We attended Barrel Tasting Weekend along the Russian River Wine Road in Sonoma County, and I overtasted...oops! Had a great dinner at Bistro 29 in Santa Rosa on Friday night before the overindulgence though!

This weekend was one of attending the Northern California Publishers and Authors (NCPA) meeting, with one fantastic speaker! Rachel Dillon - an author/illustrator based on Folsom - discussed her series of books comprised of poetry and artwork based on endangered species. How they came to be, her style of artwork (which is fascinating!), and process - of art, of writing, of getting from draft to finished product (published!).

During the work week(s), work has been challenging, playing number games, waiting for Congress to do their job and work out a Federal budget for 2011 (which was due to be in place by last October). At least the threat of a governmental shutdown seems to have been averted, but the final fallout has yet to be determined, both in the short term (the rest of this fiscal year) and in the long term (good old ripple effect to be felt for years to come). Working on long-term studies and projects - where we are expected to stay on schedule and within budget (without taking into account too much on the schedule slip/added cost to ramp down and then ramp back up instead of working straight through to completion) - when we don't know what funding we are really getting year to year is not an easy way to do business. And in today's climate, we cannot necessarily rely on what has happened in the past continuing into the future. Living in interesting times seems more of a curse then a blessing right now.

And in the midst of all this, my heart goes out to the people from Japan to the West Coast of the United States who have lost lives and livelihoods due to the recent earthquake and accompanying tsunami.

And back to the personal side...checking on the accomplishment of the weekly goals.

Exercise - did not do much either week. Think I did yoga three times and the trainer and the gym once each last week, and did yoga and a bike ride once each this past week. Mother Nature reminded me I'm female and knocked me off my game...sigh...

Writing - fell off the wagon two or three days during the last two weeks. And this poor blog was neglected last week as well. Perhaps Percopotomus took more out of me this year than I expected! ; ) Actually I think it was more related to work stress and Mother Nature's friendly (?) reminder of my femaleness.

I leave you this week focusing on those who have lost lives and livelihoods due to recent natural disasters throughout the world. We are all human beings first and all else comes second.

Namaste.

Sun after Storms - 20 Feb 11

Or perhaps more storms to come? With the budget woes not abating in Washington, I and many of my fellow Federal civilian employees may be furloughed - which will not help the economy, since we will not have funds to spend if we are furloughed. And it disturbs me to see the programs that the gentlemen and women of Congress are looking to cut - mainly domestic programs that help the poor and underprivileged, particularly women and children. Make no mistake - this is still very much a man's world, as evidenced by these proposed cuts.

I say this to Congress - I have voted every election since 1982, and I strong encourage everyone to vote - particularly those who say their vote doesn't count. This is my country too, dagnabit, and my children's and my grandchildren's! I say Nay to the Tea Partiers, Nay to the Birthers, Nay to those who will not take care of their brothers and sisters here in the United States of America first before extending the hand to others!

If we allow our internal infrastructure - both people and things - to decay, crumble and fail - we will no longer be able to return to the First World Country status we have enjoyed in the past. In fact, we will fall to Third World Country status in short order.

Do not balance the budget and pay down the National Debt on the backs and lives of those who live here and pay the taxes that pay the bills of our Nation. Take care of us first, or we will not be able to afford to pay these bills much longer!

Okay, off the soap box now...back to normal life - my life. This past week was stressful at work, not so much due to the budget as yet, but due to other things.

I did get to the gym once, did the trainer twice, and did yoga thrice. Perhaps I'll go for a walk or a bike ride today, f the weather holds - right now it's sunny with no wind - perfect for me!

I have done the Daily Pages - not always in the Morning, but at least daily...

And, I found pictures of the critters in How the Elephant Got It's Trunk (and determined that the Limpopo River does exist - and is located in what is now South Africa), so I can hopefully finish that project before my grandson's birthday next month!

Unfortunately, due to the weather, I was not able to have an Artist's Date - unless you wish to count (and I suppose I could) the pictures I took of the Oregon Juncos flitting to and fro in my backyard earlier this week in the rain - silly birds!

And now, laundry beckons...so adieu until next week...