365-day project (week #8)...

The week that was (February 15 - February 21, 2016)...

"I'll Follow the Sun"

46/365

"Rather it Snow"
47/365

"Ding Dong...Flower Delivery"
48/365

"Philadelphia City Hall Photo Tour"
49/365

"Soooo, to replace one broken lens I bought three new things...fair is fair"

50/365

"Gender Reveal for My Niece"
51/365

"Think I'll Have Eggs for Breakfast"
52/365

Wow!  Week #8 and still going strong.  #MiraclesHappen.

**All 365-day project photos are via my Samsung Galaxy phone camera.  For more, you can find me on Instagram @KathyMcB  

Here's where I "link up" today

(Join me on Tuesdays for Song-ography.  Click on photo for a full description)

"Song-ography...

"No more Monday PTA's

No carpools, or soccer games,

Your work is done.

Now you've got time that's all your own.

You've been waitin' for so long,

For those days to come

...Then they do.

"Then They Do"

IPhone

I still haven't figured out how it is possible that the days could often be so long, yet the years always so short.  It's one of the many conundrums of parenthood.  Just don't blink.  No matter how much you want to! And certainly don't wish your time away no matter how bad of a day you've had while cavorting in the Kingdom of Parenting. Because before you know it, what you've been waiting for is sleeping in your baby's bedroom, while your baby is sleeping in that great big world spreading her wings.  Time for yourself.  

Quiet.  Missing the noise, the shoes laying on the steps, and even the dirty dishes plunked in the kitchen sink that I always nagged about.  Despite the unbalanced feeling this inflicts upon me,  I can't help feel but blessed. Because the dizziness means all those dreams I dreamt to come true for my Things?  Then they did.  With the last one safely off at college, they are now all living their lives the way they want to (I try not to take it personally that 2 outta 3 find it more comfortable to do so long distance!).

And that's how it is,

It's just quiet in the mornin',

Can't believe how much you miss,

All they do and all they did.

You want all the dreams they dreamed of to come true,

Then they do."

-Then They Do (Trace Adkins)

With the last Thing leaving the nest, I had a few days of 'now whats'?!?  Of navigating unfamiliar territory.  The Better Half and I had gotten pretty use to playing second fiddle to the Things needs. Passing ships in the night at times.  So we have had to learn how to "share" space again.  And those who know me know that I do not "share" well.  The home has been my domain.  But I AM learning to share...I'd give myself a solid grade of B- so far, but with a teacher's notation of "trying REALLY hard".

And the I had an epiphany and believed I am going to be just fine.  When did I know that?  Probably when my sadness that Thing #3 had gone off to college quickly morphed into JEALOUSY that Thing #3 was IN COLLEGE!  Oh to relive those glorious years.  Suffice it to say she put the kibosh on me spending weekends on the floor of her dorm room with her, even tho I spent MANY a night on a dorm room floor back in the day.  Been there, done that, got the beer stained t-shirt to prove it .

When you send your Things off to college you hope and pray they acclimate quickly, make friends, don't miss you TOO much.  And "then they do". And you are both blessed AND a bit ticked off they don't seem miss you AT ALL.  How do I know this is true?  Oh the blessing of "Face Time".  I've only done Face Time ONCE.  The other night.   I didn't even know WHAT was happening on my IPad when the Face Time "want to chat" message started ringing.  I finally figured out it was Thing #3 AND how to actually answer the request before she hung up on me.  And then I quickly realized the REAL reason for the Face Time request...she wanted to see the DOGS.  Yep, be careful what you wish for while traipsing thru the Kingdom of Parenthood.

Yeah, I think she is gonna be alright.  Yeah, I think I'm gonna be alright too.  Then WE do!

**********

Another Tuesday already?  That was a quick week.  Thanks for visiting and linking up with Song-ography where the rules are pretty simple:

Song/Lyrics + Photo(s) = Song-ography

I will be by to visit everyone who joins in, and I encourage those of you who visit to stop by and say hi to a few of your fellow Song-ographers.

 

(Click on photo for a full description.)

An InLinkz Link-up

"Time...

"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way...

-Time (Pink Floyd)

"Moments"

Self Portrait

Time flies.  Seems as if each year gets shorter.  And that doesn't matter how much, or how little, I actually accomplish.  It's always the same result.  Swoosh!  Yesterday was Things #2 and #2.1's first wedding anniversary.  Her text to me?  "It's gone by so quick!".  Funny, I'll be saying the same thing about thirty-three years of marriage this Friday!  That's marriage.  That's life.  That's time.  Moment by freakin' fast flying moment.

**********

FIRST.  My apologies for not getting around to visit everyone who linked up last week.  I decided it was finally time to attack my 1980's time-warp of a home office.  The floral border and ornate cornices have found a new home courtesy of our local trash company.  New paint, new furniture, and a new lighter and brighter 'tude have taken their place.  I feel 20 pounds lighter.  Unfortunately that's only "figuratively"...for the time being.  I have also decided to use my own photography on canvas, for the wall decor.  So I'm currently culling thru my files to decide my "favs".  Will post photos when the project is finished.   So again...I'm sorry I didn't get time to stop by and comment last week.  

Looking forward to seeing who has decided to embrace this week's Song-ography suggested prompt vs. who has decided to listen to their own music.  Either way, thank you for joining in and linking up!  Remember, links are accepted from blogs, Instagram and Flickr.  I'm cool with it all as long as you keep with the premise of Song-ography:

Song/Lyric + photography = Song-ography

Looking forward to stopping by and visiting you all...I PROMISE!

(

(click on image for full description of Song-ography)

An InLinkz Link-up

"Suddenly I see...

...this is not what I wanna be.  However, I can only see this if held at arms length without my reading glasses!  SML, I somehow went directly from Flintstones multivitamins to Centrum Silver.  And if you don't know what SML means, chances are we are sharing the same rickety boat. Note: relying on Urban Dictionary to give meaning to the vocab encountered in social media means...you are probably in the Centrum Silver zone too. Silver is apparently the new gray.  The optimist in me says that's a good thang.  Gray evokes dull, colorless, boring, gloomy, somber images (despite what AARP leads you to believe).  On the other hand, silver brings on visions of a magical, sophisticated, chic, shimmery sort. Grandmas have gray hair, movie stars have silver.  Moi?  Only my hairdresser knows for sure. Regardless, the pessimist in me says...SML.

"SML"
IPhone

What I CAN see clearly, without aid of reading glasses OR long arms, is that I have a clear disconnect between how old I am, and how old I perceive myself to be.  Gotta tell ya, I think it all began when Obama was elected president.  Twas the beginning of my gloomy, somber and gray outlook for one main reason.  Because I am older than him.  SML, I'm older than the freakin' President of the United States!  Older than the perceived leader of the FREE WORLD!  And THAT is how you know you have left the town of Bedrock destined for Centrum-ville.  Disclaimer:  I would hold a Republican president to the same standard of blame.  

The disconnect is a conundrum.  I travel.  I eat out (probably too much).  I go to happy hour (when I'm not too tired).  I've done Saun T's Insanity TWICE (and cursed like a teenager the whole time).  I'm currently kickin' FitBit's butt.  I dream.  I make sh*t happen (when I want to).  I consider myself a 'cool mom' because I'm never gonna show up at school in sweatpants and a scrunchy (despite what the Things might think).  I usually either know all the answers, or can bluff really well (when I can remember the questions).  I never see myself as joining the  "gray silver sneakers" brigade at my gym.  And I'm young enough to not be smart enough to know that I should "never say never".

But then there's that OTHER hand, the one that has the age spots.  When I sign onto Facebook I get sidebar ads for pelvic mesh class action lawsuits, menopausal supplements, dementia symptoms, and 60 minute face lifts.  Add insult to injury, I'm reminded by my teenage Thing #3 that Facebook is for "old people".  The vast majority of my friends have had knee and/or hip replacements.  My favorite news updates are the "20 Years Ago Today" segments.  I consider it a lucky day when I get a parking spot close to a store entrance, and sometimes do a celebratory dance in my driver's seat (it's dang impressive AND burns calories).  I have more patience, probably because I just don't care anymore about certain things.  Younger guys at the gym often help me remove the heavy weights left on my machine by the jerk before me. When I look around, I'm often the oldest in the room.  And probably most upsetting of all...my Thing #1 is old enough to be losing HIS hair (my apologies to Thing #1 for the outing).  SML.

The good news?  Sometimes I actually forget how old I am.  And I don't mean "conveniently" forget.  I mean the kind of forget I use to admonish MY mom about..."Seriously mom, how can you FORGET how freakin' old you are?!?!?!?"  And you know what?  I'm far from alone.  I read that someone turns 50 every 7 seconds.  Boo-yah.  Misery loves company, and so does Centrum Silver.  And just because I now take Centrum Gray Silver doesn't mean I'm dead yet.  I just have less time than I use to when Flintstones were my posse'.  But that just means I have less time to spend with people or things that don't make me happy.  So anyone I delete from my apparently antiquated Facebook's "friends" list...just blame the Centrum Silver.  IF I can remember the password. SML.

Here's where I "link up" today.

(click on image for description of Song-ography)

Next Tuesday's Song-ography title suggestion is "Automatic" by Miranda Lambert.

Come back and link up!  (blog, instagram, flickr photos welcome)

"Song-ography, the 'Shake it Off' edition...

"I stay up too late,

got nothing in my brain

That's what people say."

-Shake it Off (Taylor Swift)

...and they would be right.  

"I Stay Up Too Late"

Hard to shake it off, when it's my reality.  Truth is, I kinda like the stillness and quiet in the house when everyone else is in bed.  It's the time of the night when I conjure up the best "Words With Friends" magic on the ol' Ipad.  Booyah!  FYI..."Booyah" is not a valid WWF word, yet "Brrr" is?!?!?!?  Having a hard time shaking THAT off!

**********

Next week's Song-ography prompt suggestion takes me allllll the way back to blue eye shadow and powder blue tuxedos.  1976 was the year this song was the theme to my Junior Prom.  Lots of lyrics to this song, but since it's a classic...I know 'em all.  Don't ask me what I went upstairs to get.  But ask me to sing you this song instead because THAT I will remember.

"Stairway to Heaven"

Led Zeppelin (as sung by Ann and Nancy Wilson at the Kennedy Center Honors. Why?  'Cause it's an AMAAAAZING rendition)

Thanks for  stopping by and participating in Song-ography.  Just a reminder that link ups can come from any platform (blog, Flickr, Instagram). And another reminder?  Altho I encourage everyone to link up, pleeeeeease only do so in the spirit of Song-ography:  

Song + Photography = Song-ography

Feel free to stretch the limits and your creativity.  But please DO include a song title/lyric.  Each week's prompt is only a suggestion.  If you have a different photo that is singing out a different tune to you, please feel free to use it.

Looking forward to visiting everyone to see what you've been up to. 

(click on image for description of Song-ography)

An InLinkz Link-up

"Song-ography, the 'I Lived' edition...

"Hope when you take that jump

You don't fear the fall."

-I Lived (One Republic)

"The Jump"

Moi?  I didn't fear the jump or the fall.  BUT... Dog #2 probably feared the landing!  This photo sure was a workout.  Disclaimer:  no bones or canines were hurt in the process.  FYI, we both lived.

**********

Before you link up to this week's Song-ography, let's take a look at NEXT Tuesday's Song-ography suggestion.  Unless you don't live anywhere near civilization, I'm guessing you are probably familiar with...

"Shake It Off"

Taylor Swift

Remember to twist it, shape it, mold it anyway you like it.  Creativity is encouraged.  In addition, if you have a photo that is singing out a different song, please feel free to link it up instead of the given prompt.  Blogs, Instagram accounts, Flickr pages are all welcome.  Altho I love seeing every one's posts who link up to Song-ography, pleeeeeeeeeeze link up ONLY posts that are a mash up of photography/song.  After all, that IS the purpose of THIS link up.  I don't want to discourage anyone from participating but please participate in accordance with the Song-ography guidelines:

** PHOTOGRAPHY + SONG = SONG-OGRAPHY **

Thanks!  I look forward to visiting every one's blogs.

(click on image for description of Song-ography)

An InLinkz Link-up