"Gray skies are just...

...clouds passing over"

(Duke Ellington)

"Twin Towers"
Ambler, PA

This was the sight on a morning walk the other day.  Gray, ugh.  Never been a color to appeal much to me.  According to meanings and feelings associated with colors, gray is the color of intellect, knowledge and wisdom.  Haha, I think the AARP propaganda mill has been working overtime churning out that rubbish to make us all feel a bit better about growing older.   Otherwise, how would you account for the huge amounts spent on Grecian Formula and hair salons throughout the country to rid ourselves of all those signs of intellect and wisdom? The old gray goose ain't what she use to be folks..but only her hairdresser knows for sure!  

Let's see, gray is also the color of "compromise".  I guess it is because it falls midway between white and black.  Hmmmm...some might call that compromise.  I call it indecision.  I never liked falling into the gray area...it kinda puts me in a gray mood when I can't get my gray matter to commit and I'm floating aimlessly.  Plus, how could one NOT commit to black when it is so slimming?

The good thing about gray?  Gray skies are pretty darn good conditions to photograph IN, and display photographs ON.  I take a firm non-neutral stance on that.  Considering it is such a neutral color, it's a bit surprising it can evoke such a strong mood in photography too.    

But perhaps most importantly, gray looks fantastic when paired with MY fav color...red.  And you know what they say..."Gray skies are gonna clear up, so put on a happy face AND your red pumps!"

--Kathy

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (2/26/12)...

After my little rant last week, I was surprised to find out how many agreed with my stance on the new word verification.  Yet when I went to reply on their blog I found I had to type thru the gauntlet of words to post.  Which made me realize that some might not realize they have word verification on their blogs.  So please:

Okay...now that I got THAT over and done with, it's Scavenger Hunt Sunday time...and what a week it's been!  Kinda bummed I didn't get out on too many photography adventures since last Sunday.  The weather certainly cooperated, but life didn't.  What did I learn this past week?

That there comes a point where you realize family togetherness might be highly overrated.  I came to that conclusion Wednesday morning after watching back to  back movies "Dinner with Schmucks" and the last "Harry Potter" with the Better Half and Thing #3 starting at 4 a.m. in the emergency room.  Not to worry, all is well.  But I'd just like to say I wish they taught doctors the concept of "efficiency" in medical school.  WHY does it come innately to us moms, yet highly paid docs seem to lack that talent?  Luckily the  whole "family togetherness" kum-ba-yah feeling returned this weekend as Things #1 and #2 came home to see #3 perform in her children's show production of "Honk".  I also learned that who needs to watch "Dinner With Schmucks" when you can just sit down at a restaurant with MY family!

So the camera got put on the back burner this week, and I had to delve into the archives for one of my prompts because I also learned...who wants to miss life while you are taking photos of it?



1.  Handwritten

Handwritten letters delivered via snail mail...it's a lost art form.   After trying to explain the concept of a "Pen Pal" to Thing #3, I quickly realized 900+ Facebook "friends" apparently trumps the idea of a single pen pal.

2.  A Glimpse

Never a good idea to arrive early to the party...

3.  Grey

"You Are My Sunshine"

Had to borrow one from the archives, which makes me kinda grey to admit. But I re-edited it, sooooo...maybe it makes me a lighter shade of grey?

4.  Crossed

"Soft Curves"

I really like the softness, curvature, and how the tip of the leaf crosses past the stem and just peeks out the from the other side.  

5.  Bliss

Planes, trains or automobiles...anything that can take me on an adventure brings me bliss.

Can't wait to see what everyone else nabbed for the prompts while I took a bit of a break.  Hope you all get a chance to check out all the great submissions for Scavenger Hunt Sunday at Ramblings and Photos.


--Kathy

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Have you met my BFF...

The Photography Gods sometimes have a wicked sense of humor.  Today's Project 52 prompt is "Cabin Fever".  Now WHY Cabin Fever is considered a negative while Spring Fever is considered a positive, I have no idea.  A fever, is a fever, is a fever....right?  Take two aspirin, drink lots of fluids and play "Words With Friends" til it breaks.  But I do suffer from both Fever's yearly.  And right now, I'm in the midst of the cabin variety.  How DID the Photography Gods forecast that for THIS week?

"Calgon, take me away"

(Self Portrait #10)

So MY cure for what ails ya?  My BFF Rick.  I need to get away.  If not now...I need to PLAN one.  For me, the planning is ALMOST as fun as the actual trip.  And no one helps me more with that than my guy Rick.  Just the sight of Rick and moi together  can make my Better Half break out in a cold sweat manifesting itself in an involuntary death grip on his wallet.  After all, I'm easily influenced and have been known to cave easily to peer pressure.  But in Rick's defense, HE is the one who told me to just buy the "house red" vino in Italy because it is cheap and good...which leaves more Euros for Italian leather shoes, boots and purses.  You'd think the Better Half would give me kudos for attempting to save money, right?   Rick always has my back.

Gotta love a BFF who knows exactly what to do and say to perk you right out of those winter blahs.  Got the travel bug bad....do you think "Cabin Fever" applies to  cruise cabins? 

--Kathy

Why I love February (cough, cough)...

"Why, what's the matter,

that you have such a February face,

So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?"

William Shakespeare (Much Ado About Nothing)

The only way I could truly love February is if "National Sarcasm Day" fell within it's parameters.  But sarcasm deserves a whole month's worth of celebration, and not a SHORT month..but a REAL month, like October.  Truth be told, once I take down my Christmas tree I would gladly fast forward to spring.  But that's probably unfair to a month that already must suffer an inferiority complex due to it's short stature (or is it more politically correct to say it is "durationally challenged"?). I guess if I reeeeeeeally think about it there are a few things about February, besides getting it over and done with, that I can embrace.  Let's see, hmmmmmm.....okay, I can cover up the extra pounds I put on due to being bored more easily with big sweaters.  And, what other month of the year can you say to your daughter "If you want milk with your Cheerios you should check the back seat of my car".  Because if I forget to bring in that gallon of milk I bought at Wawa earlier in the day, I know it is perfectly safe in the frigid back seat of my car for a few days.   But the BEST thing about February is that I don't feel  like a total loser putting on my pj's at 5 pm.  Hey, if the sun isn't out, I don't have to be either.

But the other morning as I trudged down my stairs for a cup of coffee, the sunny glare from outside hit me right in the eyes.  I have to admit THIS February is proving that apparently stunning weather can occur in any month here in PA.  It was one darn sparkly wonderland out there. Sunglasses, at 8 a.m. while IN my house.  So I bring you February, in my yard.  Which reminds me, I better bring in that gallon of milk.

Last winter, I never even SAW my creek due to it being covered by snow.

No wonder I have so many freakin' squirrels out there!  They apparently love living in a sparkly disco ball.


--Kathy

It's a Wawa World...

Today's post is a departure from my norm.  No photography that merits any skill...just a huge  laugh I got the other day via some photographs I posted that were a bit better than the one below.  The post was about a section of Philly called Manayunk.  And in my post I mentioned "Wawa" in passing.  I have to admit, I didn't know if anyone else would know WHAT a "Wawa" is.  But I went ahead and posted it without any further explanation.

Then along came Cindy from Notes In the Key of Life, and her reply comment to my post.  Which TOTALLY verified WHY I love blogging and the wonderful people you meet. Cindy is a voice over artist from Illinois who was recording prompts for a telephone survey when she was caught off guard by one of the choices...Wawa.  After reading my post and seeing Wawa mentioned, she defied me to not laugh when listening to this link she included of herself.  So I'm passing on the challenge.  Since I KNOW I'm gonna win this bet, just go ahead and laugh:

"Cindy Totally Losing It!"

So now, I feel I must explain "Wawa" in a brief Philly Primer to all you aliens.   Yes, we Philly-delphians say "water" funny. But we don't say "Wawa", we say "Wooter"...which is so much more high class.  Wawa is a Native American word for the Canadian Geese that are found here in the Delaware Valley.  On the surface, Wawa is but the name of a home grown chain of  convenience stores here in the Mid-Atlantic.  PSHAW!  It is soooooo much more than that.  We don't say "we're going to the store".  We say "we're going to Wawa". The BEST coffee (sorry Starbucks!), fresh made sandwiches that don't sit under heat lamps and yearly "Hoagiefests",  open 24/7 (and it's NEVER empty), CLEAN, friendly employees, lots of gas pumps so usually no waits, AND (my favorite) no surcharge on your ATM withdrawals.  It's a way of life, dang it. There's even a number of Facebook groups for Wawa-ites, so you KNOW it's legit! 

(YES!  I felt pretty stupid outside my Wawa taking a photo)

Not to mention the name is sooooo fun to say and keep a straight face at the same time: WAAAAAH - WAAAAAAH.  What's not to love?  This isn't your mom's 7-11 we're talkin' about folks! And that ain't nothing to laugh about...except for the name :)

--Kathy

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Scavenger Hunt Sunday (2/19/12)...

Okay, I apologize upfront for this BUT...I need to use my Scavenger Hunt Sunday post for a bit of rant. Is it just happening to MOI?  Or is everyone being inundated with word verification these past few days?  Not just "regular" word verification BUT hard to read, squiggly lined, not one but TWO words of word verification?  It seems like it is on every post I try to comment on.  ARGH!  I'm 52 and my eye sight ain't what it use to be folks.  I like to comment on blogs, but it has become akin to jumping thru hoops...blind-folded.  Quite often, I have to just "guess" on what some letters actually are.  I'm amazed at how often I guess correctly.  If only that strategy had worked as well back when I took my SATs! So I upfront apologize to all those who have this word verification thingy going on.  I don't want to seem like I'm ignoring folks.  I appreciate ALL comments I get here, and I like to reciprocate.  But it is getting harder and harder to do so.  If I can't "guess" the letters correctly on the first try...I am most likely to not try again.  Okay, I try TWO times...but then I'm done.  Three MAX!

Whew, now that I got that off my chest...on to Scavenger Hunt Sunday with the lovely Ashley at "Ramblings and Photos" .  As always, if you have the time I urge you to head over to her blog to see all the wonderful submissions for this week's prompts.

1.  Love

Kisses + hearts = LOVE

2.  Duplicated

"Mosaic"
Manayunk, PA

Pieces + Pieces + Pieces = Duplicated

3.  Trend or Trending

"Privacy"

Whitney + Houston = A very sad trend

Not sure if anything trended higher this week than the passing of Whitney Houston.  So many stated they saw this coming, it was only a matter of time.  Since her death, she hasn't been far from my mind.  Wondering what her life must have been like never being able to fight her demons in private, to always have people looking at her, speculating, passing judgements.  Even tho she was in the public eye, it must have been a lonely existence trying to hide her battles.  Walking the fine line between stardom and protecting privacy. Knowing when to draw the blinds, circle the wagons, heal herself.  RIP.

4.  Paper

Cover + Pages = Paper

OLD paper.  The Better Half's family bible from 1870.

5.  Plastic

"Get Your Ducks In A Row"

Nada + Imagination = Plastic

You know what I realized trying to shoot this prompt?  I just don't have that much plastic around my house!  Thankfully I have my fine jewelry.  I got this exquisite piece up in New Hope one afternoon while with the Better Half.  This bracelet put a big dent in his wallet.  I'm still waiting for the perfect outfit to accessorize it with.

And there ya have it, another Scavenger Hunt Sunday in the books.  I'm going to get my coffee AND my eye-glasses (for all those word verifications) and do some blog surfing to see what every one else came up with this week. Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

--Kathy

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The "Eyes" have it...

"True Love"

There is probably no higher standard that I can try to live up to, than to strive to be the person my two dogs see thru their eyes.  I must admit, it is a very nice view from atop my pedestal.  To be gazed upon adoringly is quite the drug.  My self-esteem grows by leaps and bounds equivalent to the levels of excitement expressed every time I return to the house and I am greeted by abundant displays of joy and happiness.  I am loved unconditionally.  It is a good thing.  The feelings are mutual after all (okay, I MIGHT have a "few" conditions on my end of the equation).  

This week's Project 52 prompt is "True Love".  If only I could harness Dog #1 and Dog #2's unabiding love and devotion and attach it to the rest of my family.  Well, it is probably a good thing I can't, otherwise my head would swell to proportions that would render me unable to exit thru my doorway. The good news?  At least the rest of the family doesn't shed...very much.

--Kathy

"Where we go to drink"...

"Manayunk" -  neighborhood in N.W. Philly, former textile village,

watering hole for both the Lenni Lenape Indians AND current thirst-mongers.

Being the "born again" Philadelphian that I am, and in the spirit of indoctrinating the Better Half into the faith, I've been on a mission.  To show him all Philly has to offer.  Poor guy.  He needs to be brought up to speed and to wean himself off his GPS every time he has to venture to Wawa.  It's not his fault.  He is not a native, and his work/commute since we  moved here eats up a lot of his time.  Granted, he does know how to get to Citizen Bank Park for a Phillies game (and that IS important!)...but what about  Manayunk?

It was sunny, the temps were mild...time to introduce the Better Half to this section of northwest Philly that sits on the banks of the Schuylkill River. 

Gotta love those Lenni Lenapes.  If you grew up in this area, you've learned to embrace them and their language.  If not, then that whole second grade school year was a complete waste of time learning their history and culture.  Not to mention all the tongue twisters for town names they've left us with...

...Conshohocken (pleasant valley), Neshaminy (2 streams), Perkiomen (where the cranberries are???), Skippack (wet land), Wissahickon (catfish stream)...to name a few.  And "Manayunk" (where we go to drink).  I'm pretty sure those wild and crazy Lenapes weren't referring to the restaurants/bars that dot every block on Main Street, but to the Schuylkill River (disclaimer:  do NOT drink out of the Schuylkill).

Manayunk was once a thriving textile village.  And it boasts the FIRST canal in the United States to be begun.  However, not the first one to be finished, due to budget problems.  I can TOTALLY relate.

Running parallel to the canal and the Schuylkill is the Manayunk Towpath.  It is part of a 20-mile trail from Valley Forge to the Philadelphia Art Museum.  It's great for biking, jogging, walking and photographing.

Over the years, Manayunk morphed from thriving to decaying.  It was common to see rows of abandoned storefronts along Main Street.  But in the 1990's it underwent a revitalization program and Main Street is now one hopping place.  Many upscale shops, restaurants and bars now line the avenue and the town has been named a National Historic District.

And if I were in my 20's and 30's...this is where I'd go not only to drink and eat, but to permanently unpack my shoes too.  But as it is, I'm not.  As I was too quickly reminded,  I'm a mom who locked Thing #3 out of the house when she got home from school.  Dang!  So many photo-ops left unsnapped!

I'm pretty sure it was the Lenni Lenape who said "I Shall Return...Kimo Sabe".

And when I do...it will be without the Better Half having to use his GPS, and a spare house key permanently attached to Thing #3.

--Kathy

Let the sunshine in...

I need me some rays!  And dang it, if I HAVE to go to Italy to get me some...I'm willing to make the sacrifice.  I don't watch my HGTV's "House Hunters International" for nothing, mind you.

"Under the Tuscan Roman Sun"

Pantheon

Rome, Italy

And just to prove a point, I'm going to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's today too.  Because  not only do I not have any sun... I don't have a gelato shop near me either.  No one said life is fair, but that doesn't stop me from complaining sometimes.  Good news?  Pitchers and Catchers report in 2 days and that is something Italy does  not have :)

Ciao,

--Kathy

"Love actually,...

...is all around us."

(Hugh Grant, "Love Actually")

"Follow Your Heart"

One of my favorite all-time movie (besides "Gone With the Wind") is "Love Actually".  If you've never seen it, it is one of those brilliant movies where a group of seemingly independent stories, intertwine as the movie progresses.  And as the title implies...they are all about love.  It is a movie which takes place at Christmas time in London.  For moi, the Christmas season never truly begins until Thing #2 and I plop down together, watch "Love Actually", ooh and ahhh over the merits of Colin Firth vs. Hugh Grant, and debate which is our favorite story line (Jamie/Aurelia, duh!).

I was reminded of the movie yesterday when trying to put together a post for Valentines.  You see, I've been feeling and looking a bit cr*ppy the past few weeks.  Under the weather, stress, not liking Bachelor Ben's rose choices, yada, yada, yada.  While on the computer I must have inadvertently (because I NEVER do this!) hit the  "i-chat" button.  The video screen popped up and scared the bejeezus out of me.  I had no idea WHO the old woman was looking at me on my computer screen, but she was in dire need of an overhaul STAT!  Let's just say I don't think I'd be getting any one's rose and it would definitely be the most "dramatic rose ceremony everrrrrrr"!

Well, truth be told, I think know I'd get one from my Better Half.  I told him my grisly discovery last night and he just laughed at me, despite my repeated assertations that it WASN'T funny and I was going to google "Botox" today!  It reminded me of one of the quotes from "Love Actually":

"I love you even when you are sick and look disgusting" - Jamie

So, to my Better Half.  Happy Valentine's Day.  It does not go un-noticed that you put up with a lot from me.  So in honor of this special day, I will run a brush thru my hair, I will smile, I will not complain about Bachelor Ben to you, and I will pretend to ignore the pile of dirty clothes plopped on the floor next to your side of the bed (that last one is a REAL sacrifice for me!).  See?  And here you thought I wasn't a cheap date!

Happy Valentine's Day to all...

--Kathy

The villain has arrived...

Do not be fooled by his cuteness.

Afterall, he is in disguise.

He is just a rat bedecked in a much cuter outfit.  I guess I have to give him props for "making it work".

But honestly, how DO you explain yourself to the birds?!?

--Kathy

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (2/12/12)...

Sunday!  Geez Louise, Sundays seem to have a way of sneaking up on me. But here we are, time for Scavenger Hunt Sunday again.  I only had one of these photos come Friday morning.  Luckily, the weather has been darn like spring here in Philly...so Friday afternoon the Better Half and I took off for Manayunk (more photos later in the week) and I was able to get a few of my prompts in.  And today, I pleaded with Thing #3 to let me take a photo of her for my last prompt and fait accompli'!  Things always seem to work out, so why sweat it, right?  Haha...I was sweatin'.

1.  Facial Feature

"Window to the Soul"
(Thing #3)

I can't wait for her to be able to see the beautiful young woman I see.

2.  Fabric

Cafe curtains in a cafe...how unique.

3.  Gold

So glad I happened upon this  storefront window with the golden apple cause...I was stumped!

4.  Spicy

No, the bra doesn't belong to the "Turkish Cuisine" restaurant, but the lingerie shop next door.  Altho I'm sure BOTH are spicy.

5.  Shadow

"Out of the Shadows"
(self portrait #9)

These windows are why we bought our house.  They just weren't there at the time.  "Potential" was the only redeeming quality of the home.  There was only an ugly screened-in porch. "Trust me" was my mantra.  Now it has windows, it is my favorite place to see both the sunshine and lurk in the shadows.  Gorgeous light filters in to the room, and a beautiful view to enjoy the creek and watching my two pooches under the disillusionment they are the kings of the backyard wild life. Little do they know the deer and fox are just toying with them. Potential is good.



I want to thank everyone for  allowing me to "vent" a bit this past week about the trials and tribulations of teen-aged parenting....also known as "The Good, The Bad, and the You are SOOOOOO Not Cool!".  Your support and kind words were most appreciated.  Rest assured, we shall prevail.  We shall overcome.  We shall drink wine and eat "Chunky Monkey".


--Kathy

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Drink up...

The last thing I want to do is to bore you with my parental acumen so I'll let you in on a little secret.  I really stink at it sometimes.  Case in point, Thing #1..."The Early Years".  Now that he is 26 and will be graduating law school in May (just wait for it...I'm getting to the "stink" part) I'm sure he won't mind me telling you that there were many years I wasn't sure he would even make it to adulthood.  OR, more accurately...that I would be locked away by Child Protective Services and would never see his adulthood.  Let's just say  he was a bit of a "challenge".  Lots and lots of stories here, but it started early with his imaginary friend...who apparently was the REAL culprit.  Followed by a stint in Kindergarten when I got called to the school because he was so disruptive and they seriously worried about his future.  

I was informed diplomatically by his teacher that my son's problems came from the fact that he was a... "Divergent Thinker",  and this had to stop.  WHAT??!!???!!!??  ANYTHING but THAT!  Now, I have to admit I didn't have a name for my son's behavior other than "ARGHHHHHH".  But the teacher went on to explain that my son's thought processes were not that of a "normal" child.  For example...the sequence of discipline in the class was:

1.  Warning

2.  Head on Desk

3.  Stand in the corner

Thing #1 would do something and get a warning.  THEN, he would do something that merited putting his head on the desk.  Before he would even get to his desk he would do a third violation ENROUTE.  Why?  Because he said it hurt to put his head on the desk and he would rather just go stand in the corner.  It never occurred to him to just NOT misbehave.  Welcome to my child rearing baptism by fire, and my early introduction to  "Only her hairdresser knows for sure".  It was a delicate balance on what to do here.  Because even back then, as frustrating as his behavior was...I realized his "divergent thinking" was going to be what gave him success in life despite the angst it some times frequently caused.

So why the long story?  Haha...because I realized years later he got that "Divergent Thinking" gene from moi, and not the Better Half whom I liked to blame when I didn't view it as a good thing.  With moi, I just always referred to it as "thinking outside of the box", which is much less ominous sounding.  This week's Project 52 prompt is "Drink Up".  So why the photos of snow and the story?  Because quite honestly, I just don't like to do the expected, it hurts to put my head on the desk.  

I finally got a pretty snowfall yesterday.  This has been the most bizarre winter around here...no snow.  And it was the perfect snow we finally got.  Beautiful on the ground, not a flake on the roads...and it was gone by 12 noon.  Quite the tri-fecta. I really did drink up the beauty of the moment Mother Nature gave to me.  Cheers!

Divergent thinkers unite!

--Kathy

What I would say...

"The Journey"

(Self Portrait #8)

Growing up is a tough road to haul.  I'm not sure it is a journey that is ever truly finished.  Maybe that is a good thing...the eternal quest.  It keeps you young, if it doesn't kill ya.  Where I am in life right now, I'm in limbo.  On one hand I feel I'm old enough that I SHOULD know better.  Yet, I'm young enough to realize I often don't...and SOMETIMES I even enjoy when that happens.  It's quite the conundrum.  Just when I think I might yearn for the days when I was a care-free teenager,  I glance across the room at my youngest...my 14 year old daughter...and smack myself for not knowing better.  If I could JUST keep my journey but trade-in the wrinkles the trek has left...THAT I could live with.

Teen-aged angst and insecurities.  I've been through it once myself, two more times with Things #1 and #2, and now apparently because I couldn't get it right any of those times...I'm challenged with it again with Thing #3.  Knowing what I know now, being the grown up and wise person I have some how morphed into (insert sarcasm), what pearls of wisdom would I impart on my teen-aged self to help me on my journey..if I could put time in a bottle?

1.  Confidence is beautiful and so are you exactly the way you are.  Of all the things in life, confidence is the thing it's okay to "fake" until you don't have to fake it anymore.

2.  "SPF" does not stand for "Sun, Play, Fun".  Back away from the Baby Oil as a tanning aid.  You might think YOU never will mature..but your skin will!

3.  Smile more. People will mistake your insecurities and lack of smile for being snobby.  You are going to get wrinkles on your face anyway, so there is no reason NOT to smile. Plus, you  have a pretty good sense of humor...stop hiding it.  FYI, you are gonna marry a dentist, Karma baby!

4.  Don't read about diseases and sicknesses in encyclopedias.  You are highly susceptible to developing their symptoms.  Remember that whole "lock jaw" in the children's encyclopedia incident?  Plus, the computer is coming.  Trust me, GOOGLE is not your friend.  It is the future's equivalent of the Encyclopedia Britannica on steroids.  I see lots of brain tumors and life threatening false self-diagnoses in your future.  You better marry a very patient man....with good health insurance.

5.  Don't let other people rent space in your head.  You have enough voices in there of your own, trust yourself.

6.  First impressions stick.  In case you doubt me, I have 3 words for you:  Johnny "Pick-Nose" Gillardi. Is that 4 words?  Okay, math will NEVER be your strong suit.

7.  Stop trying to talk your mom into letting you give up the piano.  You will regret it for the rest of your life.

8.  Twirling fire batons is not a life defining achievement.

9.  Don't be afraid to try new things.  It is a basic human right to make an ass out of yourself on occasion.  And sometimes it's fun too (just make sure no one has a camera).

10.  There will always be difficult people in the world.  You can't change them.  Just don't date them.

11.  Life is unfair at times.  But that is why the universe makes room for Karma.

12.  Nothing you do is a waste.  When you get older, if nothing else, it will give you something to blog about.

Of course, being the know-it-all teenager that I was, I never would have listened to any of this.  I had to make my own mistakes along the journey.  I'm still making them.  I wonder what my 80 year old self would tell me today?  Probably that "Confidence is beautiful" and "There is a good reason you can't find your batons".  Sometimes you just need to be reminded over, and over again.  Sort of like Thing #3.  Yep, the journey never ends.  But after looking at this photo I posted...I really should get a pair of jeans that don't get so baggy while I'm on the trip!

--Kathy