Holidays 2010

Dear Family and Friends
I write this letter: happy, healthy and wise (getting wiser every day I hope!) to you in the hopes of sharing some of my thoughts, feelings, expectations and wants.
I think I’m really lucky…and then I think I’m not. I, like many of you have busted my ass to be where I am today, and I am in a good place. I have a reliable job that pays well and offers lovely benefits. I am able to obtain an education that so many are not (of course, at the expense of student loans and mad-crazy schedules!) and I know that this is a true gift. I think that too many people don’t realize how good they’ve got it – even if it doesn’t seem all that great sometimes…and then I remember all the folks I know that have worked as hard or much harder than me: (my dad! for one) and I realize, there is a bit of luck in all of this. I’m lucky enough to be able to continue to work hard every day when some are not and I am so appreciative of that.
I feel honored to be in a position to help others. I have this ache in my heart that I cannot help everyone, that I cannot fix the world but, I do what I can (and sometimes more) and I feel like I must learn satisfaction in that and throw away the pain that is not being able to do it all…and then I don’t throw it away. I re-visit this pain when I want to feel down or trampled on or blue and I realize that the pain works. I feel so much gratitude to be surrounded by like-minded folks and to have made so many good friends in the name of giving to others: I cherish you all and am thankful to have made your acquaintance and to have you as a part of my family.
I expect things in life. I expect that hard work and dedication and giving and education and kindness and calmness will make a difference in this world. I expect it and am always so sad when it isn’t “just-so”. But this helps me continue in my ways…I expect that one day, I and my family and friends and others like us will change the world…and that we are doing so now by being kind and generous and expecting others to be and do so just the same.
I want better things…for my family, my friends and the folks I meet in unusually difficult circumstances. I want a world that is more fair and just and kind. I want people to have shelter and food and clothing and to receive appropriate medical attention. I want our government to get their shit together and help those who need it, help this planet, help our furry friends and to appropriately punish those who choose not to partake in a world of giving and kindness.
I think a lot…(obviously!) and challenge you to do the same – how can you help? how can you make a difference today? I feel compassion and heartache for my fellow man and I want you to too. I expect you to do good for you and yours…and your neighbors in need; it’s what keeps us human. Lastly, I want you all to feel the warmth of the holiday season, whatever it may mean to you: spiritually, religiously or otherwise – to be to be kind, to be generous, to be grateful.

Happiest of holidays to you and yours!
I appreciate all that you are and all that you do and give.

Much Love
Leah

More Stuffs!

My garden is finally starting to take off:

I forgot to take pics of my first few baskets of goodies: tomato berries and beans gallore! I also couldn't help but pull one beet...'cause I love 'em and well, I HAD to! My kitties were very interested as you can see!

Beans! (Had to fence 'em in - they were getting crazy!)


Cuccumbers - holy-moly there are a lot of flowers...looking forward to the fruit! Just started training 'em 'up' today.


Beets! Love!


Zucchini!


Canteloupe!






Rebound checking it out:






My First beet (albeit a baby!) I couldn't help myself!


Phoenix checking it out:






And then there's Rebound...sometimes I can't help but focus on the fact that he may die any day now. I continue with prescription meds, powder and food and he seems fine. I am trying to be very aware of how's he's doing so I'm not keeping him alive for me...I want to weigh the quality vs. quantity of life with him, he deserves it...he's wonderful. Sometimes I just lay on the floor with him and cry...









And I wonder how Phoenix will be when Rebound is gone...they basically hate each other but I see her in sneaking moments enjoy him cleaning her head and playing...she has never been an "only" cat...



She's the blur...








And so I watch my garden grow and am stuck on the fact that one of my wonderful cats is dying and that so many other things: struggles and worries and my-god can't people catch a damn break: EVER are going on...and so must I...go on and continue to care about those I love...and I will.

Misc Items

So - my leg is finally way, way better (thank the gods!) - it's still painful at times and is actually stll visibly bruised - ortho said I have bone contusions; take about 6-8 weeks to heal...almost there!

My intense 6-week session at school finally ended too. Seemed that's all I was doing the last two weeks solid. Nothing very difficult...except finding the time to do everything!

My garden is doing so/so. After I put my starter plants in the ground (on Father's Day) - I kind of didn't make it back for like 9 days and you can tell! It wasn't just my absence though (friends helped me out with some watering) - the plants where I normally go weren't all that great looking this year...

Went back yesterday and got a few plants to add to the mix, spent hours cleaning in/around my plots, planting and watering and so things are looking better!


peppers! lots - i thing about 8 or 9 varieties!


strawberries!


****my plot - all from seed, less a little cypress plant that's been dying in my apartment and a fantastic tomato berry plant the garden center gave me for feeling bad about some on my other stuff not doing so well!


**cypress - is it dead or is it alive?


new tomato berry plant!




**and, what the heck is this? never seen a bug like this before...hmm: anyone know?

Updates: Garden, Leg and Monday, Monday...

So, this is a few days off (though the pics are not - there were taken 14 days after the initial fall...)...I really think the scarring will be minimal...my esthetician gave me vitamin C oil that I have been using religiously and let me tell you, it's reducing the redness and scarred-looking areas a lot!



















and the garden continues to go. Disappointed: no cuccumbers and my beets don't seem to be taking too well - keep trying, right?



And so, these updates are a bit brief...see, it's Monday. I don't personally have anything against Monday's but today: today is a different day.

Today, I skipped spinning (which I love) to grab an x-ray of my leg because it still hurts...like a structural-type hurt. And while it looks like it's healing it's just you know, 1.5 weeks later and well, COME ON! So - my right knee is "officially" sprained, I have cellulitis and the doctor told me to stop running (forever) because the x-rays shows oh-so-very-little space in my knee - almost bone on bone...I'll be following up with my ortho guy (Dr Vernon Patterson: love-love him!) to see what he says...but still...

Top it off with a visit to the vet with my 15 year old cat Rebound...he's been a little off lately so I just thought I'd see...and low and behold: beginning stages of kidney failure. DAMN, DAMN, DAMN...pills, powder and special food...he's totally worth it...

Screw this day though, you know?

Quote for Today

"If you are thinking one year ahead, sow a seed. If you are thinking 10 years ahead, plant a tree. If you are thinking 100 years ahead, educate the people."
~Chinese poet, 500BC

One Week Later!

My lower leg still hurt(s) so much that I actually went to an urgent care center last night...just to see! Hey, my high deductible HSA plan is met/fully funded for the year so, why not, right?















Doc said it's healing just fine but will be weeks for the redness/bruising etc. to go away...that falls like mine are traumatic, give it time: blah-blah. I just needed some reassurance, you know? It's been about 20 years or so since I've had cuts, scrapes etc. like this...

In this same week I have sprouted: cataloupe, zucchini, acorn squash, green beans, yellow wax beans and beets!

Hooray for healing and growing and gardens...