Good Friday

The moon looks down on us.  We look up to the moon.

From 2012-03-08

Relax, reflect, and renew this Good Friday.  

Gone fishin'

Last weekend, we took a whirlwind tour to our favorite place on the planet.  It was really cold.  This is no surprise;  it's cold in the winter in Michigan.

When I saw this guy, I was in AWE.  I lasted about 5 minutes outside.

From 2012-02-25

I guess if you love to fish, cold weather is no obstacle!

Cheers to Friday and the Friday Happy Dance!

Slacker Week

Oh my goodness, I don't know where the time goes.

Well, I sort of do.  I have been reading. reading, and reading.

I haven't even picked up my camera.  Sigh.

It is February 17, there is no snow, and there is no snow on the horizon.   The weekend will be busy.  Thoughts about redoing our basement.  Perhaps.

This is my favorite right now.  Marc and Angel Hack Life.   I especially love their link to Thought Questions.

The question for the day is this:  Where do you find strength?

From 2011-09-03

Happy Friday!

Friday Happy Dance

It was been a wickedly busy week.  I wouldn't even know where to start.  But I know where to end.  Friday.  :) 

This was a delightful Thursday afternoon.  I had a chance to talk to some students about managing their online reputation.  After our time together, we were invited to dine in the dining hall for the annual Thanksgiving dinner.  Oh my goodness, was the food delicious.  Fresh vegetables, mashed potatoes, freshly carved ham and turkey, and incredible salads.  Oh, I splurged on a little chocolate milk.  Paul was able to join me and we sat with some good friends. 

I haven't eaten dinner this early in years.  But it was fabulous. 

I close my eyes and think of this. 

From 2011-11-13

Ending the day in gratitude.  Happy weekending! 

Friday Happy Dance

It has been a good, long week. It started to snow here in Michigan. I wasn't prepared - no ice scrapper, no boots, no gloves, no coat. I don't know what I was thinking when I went to work yesterday.

I was over the Prince Conference Center for a midday celebration and couldn't help but grab a few images of the gorgeous flowers. It really helped take my mind off the snow.  At least for a minute.

From 2011-11-10

From 2011-11-10

It's Friday.  It's happy.  It's the weekend!  Lots to do and places to be and fun to be had.  Cheers!

Friday Happy Dance

Random thoughts.

On Thursday night, I had the chance to go talk to some neat people about social media;   I covered all the good stuff like staying on top of what is being said - in word, in print, in tags - about you.  It's all kinds of fun to chat about all the crazy tools out 'there' that track you.  Crazy.

Like Spokeo.  Or Social Mention.  Or Namechk.   Gives new meaning to ego surfing.

It's going to be a beautiful weekend here in G-Rap.  I expect that we will spend all kinds of time moving leaves, walking around the lake, and grabbing the last pictures of our beautiful fall. 

From 2011-10-29

Let the dance begin!

Take-your-dog-to-work day

I think Samson would be a better greeter than I am. He is always happy to see people. People have puppy treats.

Seriously, how cute is he?

From Samson's day at the Beach

From Samson's day at the Beach

From Samson's day at the Beach

Can't you just see him saying, "thank you for calling Human Resources. How may I help you?" But let me just scratch my back first ...

From Samson's day at the Beach

Friday Happy Dance commences NOW !

Friday Happy Dance!

and today,  it's ALL about the COFFEE!

From 2011-02-14

Frozen Friday

Samson's paws dragging in snow. Happy Friday!

From 2011-02-02

Friday Happy Dance!

It's been a good and busy week.

Can you find the hawk in the tree?  He periodically visits me outside my office window.

From 2011-01-24

I enjoyed a delightful birthday week with fabulous cheesecake from my good friend Jen.

From 2011-01-24

Lunches out with friends and some gorgeous flowers.

From 2011-01-26

How did Samson feel about the week?  He was non-plussed.

From 2011-01-27

Happy Friday!  

Friday Happy Dance

Yesterday, I had some fun in the Ecosystem Preserve.   And while celebrating the end of a marvelous week, let me share some of the fall beauty.

From 2010-10-06

From 2010-10-06

From 2010-10-06

Happy Friday!

Friday Happy Dance

What a wonderful week.  And it promises to be an even more wonderful weekend.

I am, despite the plunging temperatures and mountains of snow, looking forward to January.  One of my favorite programs at work is the January Series and we have an amazing lineup of speakers scheduled.   Krista Tippett will be opening the series on January 5.  I can't wait.

In her newsletter, she shared a beautiful poem that I wanted to share here.

From Summer Oscoda

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,

then walks with us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:

You, sent out beyond your recall,

go to the limits of your longing.

Embody me.

Flare up like flame

and make big shadows I can move in.

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.

Just keep going. No feeling is final.

Don't let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.

You will know it by its seriousness.

Give me your hand.

—Rilke's Book of Hours, I, 59

Happy Friday. 

Friday Happy Dance with Dessert

This has been a week for the books. We have been out every single night this week and we are ready for the weekend! We ended the run with friends Polly and Patrick last night.  They moved here from Milwaukee and are loving the GR way of life.

Polly is amazing.  While raising possible the cutest five year old on the planet, she is also a pastry chef.  If she does lessons, I am SO there.  The first thing she made was this tiered strawberry cake with cardamon.  She gave us the full description - which of course I have completely forgotten.   It was so good that I was scrapping the airy-light cream off the cake so I could taste each individual component of the masterpiece.  It was fantastic.  

Then the bites of heavenly deliciousness - macaroons.  These were simply eggs whites with I suspect a *little* sugar and dipped (are you ready?)  in dark chocolate.  Polly let us take a few home.  She said that I could share them at work.  Yeah, right.  They aren't going anywhere!  :)

Tomorrow, I have a full day of photography held by two local photographers.  I have been looking forward to this for months.  Enjoy the weekend!

Friday Happy Dance

Well, it's been quite a week.  Back and forth, hither and yon, dinner with friends and some time on Skype.  I am glad it's Friday.  I need a nap.  

From 2009-12-20

Some fun things - our Handsome Samson is Pet of the Month at Whiskers Pet Resort. The crew there - Rebecca, Nichole, Jennifer, Amber and friends all take such good care of him.  He loves them so.  When we take him to Whiskers - for boarding or fun for the day, he can't wait to get there.  We tell him - come on, let's get in the car and go to Whiskers, he starts howling.  When we get close, he starts howling in the crate and when we arrive, he bolts to the desk, jumps up to say hi and runs to the office to look for Rebecca.  It's like he owns the place.  When one of his special friends take him to the back to stay and play, he doesn't even look back.  Really.  Not even a glance.

So when speaking about of Whiskers, we call it the Happiest Place on Earth or the W place.  We can't say it or spell it; Samson's ears go up and he looks interested.  Funny little man.

Henry was in SoCal this weekend and I got a Skype call from him that he had Yak for dinner.  I need to hear more about this.

So that's all she wrote.  More in the hopper.  Happy Friday!  

Friday Happy Dance!

w00t! It's been a good week and a busy week and the weekend is looking fine.

Mr. Handsome was not very much this week and despite our wonderful vet tech's efforts over Facebook to help, he was still sick. So Wednesday, we paid a visit to the good vet's office. I love taking him there and believe it or not, he loves going. He just loves people, esp Jen. :) With a little medicine, our Handsome One is feeling much better and enjoying life. Whew. (I will spare you the details as not all my blog's readers are excited to hear about my dog's elimination issues) While at the vet's office, he was showered with love, rubs and puppy treats. He is so spoiled. And I think, deservedly so.

This weekend, we have some things to make happen. We need to get out our Christmas cards, we need to do a little shopping at Art of the Table, we need to get some pictures taken (that's the royal We) and do a little clean up.

This is the first weekend in several months where I don't have something scheduled on the calendar. Ah, some down time.

Friday Happy Dance!

and w00t! it's a Long Weekend. We celebrate Labor Day and are grateful for the opportunity to labor. We are out and about with friends, cameras, good food and good wine. Enjoy the weekend!

It's the weekend

Whew, what a week. Need to write up the wonderful event at Monroe Community Church. So look for that later.

But for the moment, here is a brief recap.

Tenderloin $4.99 a lb at Forest Hills. Sliced fillets, no charge.
Lettuce $2.00 at D & W
Rice Pilaf $2.99 for the box
Homemade salad dressing - pennies on the dollar.

Friends coming to dinner bringing wine from their unbelievable wine cellar? PRICELESS! Goodness we had fun with Mike and Pam. Too bad they took their leather wine carrier home. :)

Friday Happy Dance

Woo hoo! It's a beautiful day here in Michigan. These are the days when I love it here. LOVE. IT. HERE. Now, we need to do something about jobs, taxes, healthcare and unemployment. But that's another blog completely.

I am doing several workshops for jobseekers. If you know someone job hunting, head over to the HR Maven and check out the dates and times. Everything is FREE but we have limited space so you must RSVP!

Enjoy Friday and right now, my FAVE song, Second Chance by Shinedown:

My eyes are open wide
And by the way, I made it
Through the day
I watched the world outside
By the way, I'm leaving out
Today

Well, I just saw hailey's
Comet shooting
Said why you always running
In place?
Even the man in the
Moon disappears
Somewhere in the
Stratosphere

Enjoy the weekend!

Friday. Happy. Dance.

I had a nice post composed, all in my head. All about redemption in chicken curry, fun on the high seas, funny stories about weddings and photographers, annoying tailgaters, winsome tales of love and beauty .... but .... it's Friday morning and Samson wanted to hunt and play a little frisbee. So he won. He always wins in the battle of this or that.

The stories can wait. Happy Friday.

Friday. Happy. Dance.

w00t! Can't wait for the weekend! We have a busy time ahead of us - doggie play date, dinner with friends and a whole lot o'pictures. Should be a lot of fun.

I also got the extension tubes to help me with close up photography. I have a lot to learn! :) Enjoy the weekend.