Now I'm home, washing my bedding and keeping the Jack Russell company.

It's not hot in Seattle today, but it's humid.

Still, it's not a bad weather day at all.

I''ve finally conquered the jet lag that has plagued me for weeks!

This is such good news, because I can feel my energy returning at last.

And, my daughter-in-law and grandchildren will be back in Seattle in...let's see...in 15 days!

Woot!

Life is good now, folks, it's really good.

May your life be as good as mine is now.

I think part of the problem lies in the fact that we have come to believe that the supernatural and the miraculous are what make us like Jesus, when the thrust of the New Testament writings suggest that it is the more ordinarily human things - feeding the hungry, providing water for those who are thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the poor, caring for the sick and visiting the imprisoned (Matthew 25:35-36). Unfortunately, such things aren't getting people in my church excited, or hopping onto planes to catch an outpouring of patience, kindness or self-control. They want the 'boom', because it's exciting, out of the ordinary and beyond the routine of their normal Christian existence.

What I've learned the hard way, is that the 'boom' and bust doesn't make us like Jesus. Maturing into Christ-like human beings is a life-long process of the work of the Spirit in and through the ordinariness of life, hence the concern and title of my forthcoming book, A Permanent Becoming: A Contemporary Look at the Fruit of the Spirit - if I can be so crude in plugging it :)

Twelve unhappy years were spent in Wolcott, New York, which is about 50 miles east of Rochester.

But I always gravitated back to Rochester, and felt it was my home.

In 2000, I moved out to Seattle with my mom, so that we could be close to my son and his growing family.

At first I felt uncomfortable here, like a tourist who just decided to reside in Seattle like a temporary citizen.

Then my mom got really sick, and I just stopped thinking about the concept of a geographical location as home.

Life was too busy, too stressful, and I had to deal with the realities of having a dying parent.

Then my mother died, and I needed to take care of myself again.

Last fall/winter, I considered going back "home" to Rochester; I really gave the matter careful consideration. I was also thinking of moving to Oklahoma, where my son and his family were living.

After giving it a few weeks to mull over, I realized that I had adopted Seattle as my home. Financial considerations played a big part, but not entirely.

I really love it here--the mountains, the mostly cool temperatures, the (mostly) liberal citizens, and the friends I have made here.

When my son shared that he and his family missed Seattle and wanted to return "home," I just sat back with one of those "wow" feelings, and thanked God that I have finally learned to heed my intuition, my inner sense of knowing what is best for me.

While I was busy living my life, Seattle became my home.

Rochester will always be my hometown, but Seattle is where I happily live and work.

Seattle is home.

Since it's going to be 90 degrees in Seattle, what is Beth going to do with her weekend?

Answer:

As little as possible.

I hope Baz Luhrmann is right on this one, because today (Friday 27th June) I turn 40 and I still don't really know what I want to do with my life.

In my time, I've been a student of art and theology. I've worked as a photographic technician, and in the newspaper industry. I've packed crisps, frozen peas and waited tables. I've guided students through distance learning theology degrees, and written dozens of magazine articles and several books. All these things have had their delights and their tedious frustrations. And all have contributed to making me the person I am today - but that person is still not sure what he really wants to do with the years he has post-40.

I was discussing this with my partner, Kay, the other night, in that just-before-sleep-reflective-haze. 'I've done a lot with my life,' I mused. 'But somehow, I don't feel I've ever found that something that has allowed my to fulfil my potential. Inside, I feel like a giant is trying to get out.'

U2 have a song entitled 40. It's based on Psalm 40. The song has a refrain: 'I will sing a new song.' That's my hope as I turn 40. That in the months and years ahead, I will indeed sing a new song - a song that feels in harmony with who I am, a song that expresses the giant inside, even if to everyone else, I'm still just plain old (and getting older) Alan.

I got home just before 10 p.m. last night.

It was a great evening, but I'm really tired and grumpy tonight.

Also, my new cell phone arrived and I'm trying to get it all set up.

In other words, have a nice night, my friends.

TTFN.

Gila Rabbit!!! Taken in front of Popular and the Pet Shop, at Ikano.

Dear all,

My dad asked me last night, When you go to UK, do you want an iTouch, iPhone, or a red iPod nano?... I'm so smart, man. Guess what I said =X

I was just changing this morning in my walk-in closet and I realized all of a sudden that my legs didn't look so chubby anymore. =) I've been swimming and cycling almost every day since exams ended (I swam nearly everyday in Redang too) and I'm proud to say that my legs have become noticeably better toned!!! Well, they're certainly not Playboy model material (although a girl can always try =P ) but at least now I don't find them particularly offensive XD And for a short person like me, every bit of leg counts!! No, i was wide awake and not drunk this morning. I even measured them.. but you probably don't want to know about that in detail. Hell, i wouldn't tell you that in detail even if you got on your knees and asked me to freakin marry you. *shudder*

Of course, being outside everyday also means my 'hitam manis' skin is becoming slightly more 'hitam' and slightly less 'manis'... although it's all admittedly very subjective. I was mistaken for a malay a couple more times than usual lately, though...

Now if only I can find an exercise routine to help trim down my tummy just a leeetle more, without turning anorexic or bulimic. Anyone know the best exercise or diet regime to tone your tummy muscles? XD I've been googling and stuff like that but I mostly end up on sites that say stuff like, 'GET A SLIM TUMMY NOW! YOU COULD TURN FROM THIS (super obese person pic) TO THIS (slim, hot, sexy legged doll) IN JUST A FEW WEEKS! TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL X-XXX-XXXX-XXXX OR EMAIL US AT XXXXX@XXXXX.COM. WE ACCPET PAYPAL, CREDIT CARDS, etc.etc".... ah, you get the pic T_T.... so, like... help would be greatly appreciated XD

There's something else I've always wondered... How does one get 'tagged' on a blog? =/  Lyk, LOL i feel s0 n00bi3 4askn sch a Q, bt i'll nvr noe if i dn ask.

Later tonight we're all going out to watch the Beauty and the Beast musical at KLCC. I wanted to drag a certain someone along, but I didn't even ask because I knew what his answer would be =/

In the meantime, it is now 2:30pm and before my siblings get back from school, I'm going to do a couple of laps round the pool.

Today, ten laps. Tomorrow, twenty. And then... the WORLD!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

... sorry, i think I'm a bit high. =)

My daddy once taught me that there's nothing out of my reach. =)
ThEditor

Tonight we went out for Thai food, then a movie.

I'm whipped and on my way to bed.

I got home at 9:45 p.m., which would be a scandalous time for me on the weekend, but on a week night...my, my, my :)

TTFN!

Of course, I'm not suggesting Antony heard the debate, thought, 'that's a great idea' and nicked it. But I am rather incensed that Gormley is being heralded as a genius with an idea that in slightly different form had already been broached with the Fourth Plinth Committee.

I've written to the Mayor of London and some news agencies - so watch this space.

In the mean time check out this video clip: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7468750.stm

capacious \kuh-PAY-shuhs\, adjective:

Able to contain much; roomy; spacious.

I'm just a bit pissy right now, because I tried to post on Blogger and the service is down.

I have a love-hate relationship with Blogger; it ticks me off some times, but I miss it when I'm not able to post there.

I'll get over it, I guess.

Anyhoo, after a week away from the job I went back to work today.

It;s going to take me some time to get back into my groove thang at work, because I'm still tired from all the traveling I've done in the last few weeks.

However, next weekend is July 4th, and it's a 3-day weekend, and that's just a glorious thing for me to contemplate.

My son has moved back to Seattle, and the rest of my family will be back here by July 20th.

Woot!

Gran-dee's are coming home!

So I'm going to read some blogs right now, and comment on them, and then go to bed.

TTFN.

I love this movie!

It's light, and fun, and romantic, and I can just sit back and enjoy myself, or watch while I'm folding and filing my clean laundry.

The concept is really clever. As the viewer, you are watching Rob, watching TV. There's lots of background noise going on. He's switching channels and adjusting the volume. At times the noise is distracting you from hearing what Rob is trying to say. Then he turns the TV off. There is a blank screen. And there is silence. A silence that you really notice. Which got me thinking. Is silence simply the absence of noise, or is it something more tangible than that? And is it something we should be pursuing?

Because our lives are so noise-filled, most of us find silence uncomfortable. Silence can make a situation feel edgy, or a place sinister. What's more, it can reinforce our loneliness, which - even if its only temporary - can be hard to accept. Even when all audible noise is absent (a rare thing indeed) the silence leaves us with our own internal 'noise' , those inner thoughts and demons that remind us who we truly are. Perhaps that's why so many us prefer to have an mp3 in our ears, or a phone clamped semi-permanently to the side of our heads, or the TV on, even if we're not really watching it. Even as I write, I'm aware that I've got coverage of the French Grand Prix on, even though I don't follow motor racing. I could have silence - after all, I've got one of those rare moments when I have the house to myself.

In the brief silence of the other night, something felt right. It was as if as a human being I was created for times of silence. That there is some fundamental link between silence and an awareness of being human. Perhaps silence links us back to something primitive, possibly even pre-existent, for one assumes that before the Big Bang, whatever was, was silent - and so all that is came out of that silence.

Of course, the point of Rob's DVD was to suggest that we find God in the silence - yet how many of us ever seek God that way. Perhaps so much of our communication is noise based, we assume 'noise' should also be part of our spirituality and communication with God. Certainly there is seldom any silence in church on a Sunday morning. And even when silence is made available, its usually for a reason. Which caused one of my friends to observe, 'It's as if everything has to have a purpose, we are not allowed to just 'be' - to have the presence of silence - because . . .

TTFN.

profile editor

profile editor

Back tomorrow, hopefully!

TTFN

cool myspace layouts

I've finally been able to keep my fears at bay, a "feel the fear and do it anyway" pop self-help kind of thing, I guess.

Taking risks professionally can be lots of fun.

And by taking risks I mean trying things I have always wanted to attempt, but been too chicken shit to try.

I've also learned (at last) to say "no," at work and in my personal life.

What a rush.

I've also found that I am getting sick less, I'm enjoying life more, and I'm getting more accomplished with my writing.

I've finally realized that it's up to me to chart my life path, to manage the twists and turns along the way, to balance the good and the bad based on what my gut tells me is right for me.

Yeah baby.

This is what I love about weekends, you know, the chance to sit around, drink coffee, listen to music, and think about life.

TTFN.

Jet lag disappeared by Thursday, and I finally felt caught up on my rest.

Joy stopped by to visit me today when I realized that I have two whole days off before I take off for the east coast and my conference.

I'm getting lots of rest this weekend and keeping myself well hydrated, because I'm going to be spending 5.5 hours in a airplane on Monday.

Geesh.

Tonight I brewed a pot of peppermint tea, listened to music, and just sat around doing nothing.

I can feel my body start to relax, the kinks in my neck and back are gone, and I'm calm and refreshed.

So, expect more from me tomorrow after I get my lazy arse out of bed.

TTFN.

Monday morning, I'm up at the first butt crack of dawn to head for a Washington, D.C. conference.

I've gotten all of my ground transportation/lodging arranged, and stocked up on motion sickness tablets.

I've decided, for now, not to take my laptop, since I will only be gone two days.

On Wednesday morning and early afternoon, I will have some time to tour D.C., where I have never visited before.

So for now, it's off to work and a pleasant 65 degree day (56 degrees) in Seattle.

myspace layout

I'm busy.

Very busy.

But it feels good!

And it was almost 70 degrees in Seattle today.

Life is good.

Always, I guess.

Yesterday I got home from my first real vacation in years.

And next week I will be spending two days in Washington, D.C. for a conference. My employer asked me to attend and be part of an expert panel.

Wow.

I will be putting in some extra work time this week, since I will be gone for four days next week.

My blogging will be sporadic this week, because I need to put in some extra hours on the job.

But that's just fine, because I'm so excited to be part of a very special conference.

On my vacation, I flew from the west coast to the Midwest--two time zones, and I'm still really tired tonight.

Next week, I will be flying from the west coast to the east coast on Monday, then flying back on Wednesday! And I'm taking Thursday off to recuperate.

Anyhoo, here's a good article from The Mayo Clinic.

It's about jet lag.

It's now 7:37 pm, and it's time for me to crash.

TTFN

Favorite person (outside family):  Hmmmm . . . I think one of my favorite people is our friend Puck.  He is a totally awesome guy.  Sweet and nice and caring and thoughtful and family oriented.  I <3 Puck.

Favorite food:  I love food . . most kinds.  I had the most awesome Phad Thai last night.  I love me some Chipotle.  The KFC Bowl is the most awesome invention ever.  I nice hot cheeseburger with onion and pickle is great every now and then.  I can eat pizza any day of the week.  I have way too many to pick one favorite!!

Quirks about you:  I’m annoyingly positive.  My close friends might disagree, but that is because they are the only people I complain to.  For the most part, I can always find a silver lining and that drives some people I know totally batshit crazy.

How would the person who loves you most describe you in ten words or less (ask them!):  I asked and got this response:  “PITA.”  Which is short for “Pain In The Ass.”  Explains so much.  Then, when I told him I was gonna put that in the Blog . . he sent me this:  "Friend, wife, mother, loving, sacrificing, fun, shoe collector, book worm."   I never mentioned that I'd use both! 

Any regrets in life:  That I didn’t go to college.  But I’m planning to fix that starting next week!

Favorite Charity/ Cause:  Anything related to Cancer.  The care of patients.  The care of caregivers.  Research.  Suvivorship. 

Favorite Blog recently:  I’m really loving the story over at Boobs Injuries and Dr. Pepper.  She is a pretty amazing person.  Of course, MissZoot is always wonderful and now she has a new little one (congrats!).  My other daily visits include Dooce and Dad Gone Mad and of course my good friend Alan.

Something you can’t get enough of:  Food, unfortunately.  I also love to read and have an unhealthy habit of purchasing books. 

Worst job you’ve ever had:  I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad job . . but maybe the circumstances surrounding the job weren’t great.  I’ve had a bad boss or two in my time – making the job horrible. 

What job would you pay NOT to have:  Wow.  I have no idea.  I have never thought about what job I would NOT want to have. 

If you could be a fly on the wall, where:  Inside my son’s brain.  Honestly, I would love to know what the heck goes on in there sometimes. 

Guilty Pleasure:  All the crazy-ass reality shows.  Real Housewives of New York City.  Work Out.  Rock of Love.  Love them. 

Got any confessions:  I text while I am driving. 

If you HAD to spend $1,000 on YOURSELF, how would you spend it:  I’d probably buy books.  Or purses.  Or shoes.  Or shoes to walk to buy purses full of books.  Or candy.

Favorite thing about your house:  I love my huge finished basement.  It is a great place for the family to hang out and to have friends over.  It rocks.

Least favorite thing about your house:  That we don’t own it!

One thing you are bad at:  That would probably be sharing my honest feelings.  I tend to just take things and not really express how I'm really feeling.  I supress most negative things and try to portray a positive front instead.  Then, usually after a while all that negativty builds up and I'm a raging bitch for about a week.  Then I'm good again for a while. 

One thing you’re good at:  Taking care of people.  I have the natural tendency to put others before myself, particularly my kids and my husband.  I also tend to try to do everything myself as well . . which is something, particularly at work, that I'm trying to change.  I'd like to be more of a leader and not a take-everything-on-er. 

If you could change something about your circumstances, what:  I'm actually pretty content with my life.  Maybe being independently wealthy would be nice, so I could do all the things I want to do for myself and my family and friends and not have to worry about paying for it or making it happen.

Who would you like to meet someday:  Wow.  There are a shit-ton of people I'd like to meet. 

What makes you feel sexy:  Geez.  Who came up with these questions?!  I have never thought about this really.  Honestly, I'm a huge flirt and I think that flirting makes me feel sexy. 

Who is your real life hero:  All of the cancer patients I work with on a daily basis.  They are going through so much and the majority of them have the most awesome attitude and outlook.  It is amazing to me how they do what they do every day.  It makes it easy to get rid of any negativity I have about my life when I talk to them.  My problems are nothing compared to theirs.

What is the hardest part of your job:  Death. 

When are you most relaxed:  When I am sitting in the sun.  The exact location doesn't really matter.  I could be poolside at my mom's house, on a beach somewhere or in my back yard.  Sitting in the sun is my "happy place."

What stresses you out:  Negativity and drama.  Considering I have a 14 year old girl . . . I have a lot of stress! 

What can you not live without:  Something to read.

Do you agree or disagree with the recent article that reported that blogs are authored by narcissists:  Well, I haven't seen the article, so I can't say for sure, but I would venture a guess that most of us are a tad bit narcissistic.  Or maybe we are just open, genuine people who hope that sharing our stores somewhere down the line will help someone else.  At least . . . well - see the next question.

Why do you blog:  Multiple reasons.  Part of it is just to "get it out."  Occasionally I'm struck with an urge to write a poem or just get something off my chest.  I like sharing stores about my kids and I know some of my family members catch up on things here.  But mostly, it is for me. 

I'm on vacation; check back in a few weeks!

Two things that are currently agitating my happiness genes are the fact that summer is now here and as a way of celebrating this, the annual BBC Spring Watch Programme is currently being shown every night on BBC 2. If you're not fortunate enough to live in the UK and able to watch Spring Watch live, you can check it out at BBC iPLayer - though episodes are only archived for a week.

But if you really want a treat and something guaranteed to make you feel happy and glad to be alive, then you simply have to watch the Cbeebies Springwatch Song - or if you wish, you can watch a whole episode of the Cbeebies Springwatch on iPlayer where you can catch an extended version of the song and a better quality stream of the video at the end of each episode.

We forgot to bring our umbrellas.

Big mistake.

My supervisor got a headache and sore throat on Friday, and I held out until Sunday morning.

I came home early from work today to take some Thera Flu

I also had a great nap.

I'm better now, and plan to go back to work tomorrow, because my vacation starts next Monday at 5:00, and I'm on my way east a few hours later.

Woot!

I hope to post again tomorrow.