ocotillo

weird life news updates

In weird coffee news...the free coffee spree continues to continue. Struck again today. I just get this smile on my face and let out a small inner chuckle whenever it happens now. It always takes me by surprise...yet the surprise is somewhat familiar by now. So tell me St. Arbucks baristas or companions of Starbucks baristas: Is it normal to get 10+ free coffees in 6 months? Actually the story gets even stranger than this, but I'm moving on to other news.

In weird job hunting news....we still are completely in the air about the future. Where we will live, where Richard will work, etc.. What I thought would be a quieter time for him being at home and having time together has found itself sandwiched between phone interviews. Which is a good thing. These are generally a 3 or 4 part process. What he does is actually more specific than we had realized and his staying with a company for 9 years has had its good points and bad points. At the moment all the jobs he's considering and has heard back from are in Texas. One in Austin. But that all could change next week. Another thing that's become clear in all this is the general unpleasantness of nearly all big business. That is, if they're big enough to require a data warehouse person, they have made a lot of money. If a company has made a lot of money, it can be a bit iffy. So far we've encountered this in the form of: financial (sub-prime loans are where it's at- charging huge interest to people who can afford it the least), large purveyors of pseudo-foods (a.k.a. snacks), pharmaceutical (don't start me on this topic), agribusiness, big polluters and others. It seems that companies you could really feel proud to work for are scarce. Anyhow, despite all the uncertainties, we really are ok with it all. And I can't say I always felt that way in the past when Richard was between jobs.

And well, this is just a little thought out there about the weirdness of dreams (because  maybe it fits, or maybe I'm too lazy to start another post). Have you ever noticed in dreams that they never stop being weird? I mean, life has its weirdness, and there is a certain newness to places, people or things, but you get used to it. It seems that in the dream world, it's always weird. Something surreal and unexpected is always happening. I seem to be in REM land lately when the 6:45 alarm goes off to get everyone ready for school. So I awaken in that disorienting place when I come realize that hovering near the ceiling on an inflatable chair is something possible in dreamworld, but not in the "real world". So it came to my realization that dreams are ever changing. Never dull. Always somewhat unpredictable with a pinch of untamed wildness to them. It seems that if dreams were only a part of our subconscious, that our dreams would be more predictable, more like knowing another language, or another place. Even if it was very different, it would make more sense. It seems to me that there is so much in dreams that can't seem to be tied down to our experiences. AND I think this in-between realm leads to, but is not, the Ultimate reality. That would be the world of the Creator (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) that is always changing, never dull, creative and beautiful beyond our dreams and imaginations. Because I think we have this mistaken view that life with God is not and cannot be like this for long.

Whew. I'll write more later. But if you have any comments now, I'd like to hear them.

coming along (stage 3.5)

I'm still working on it. I want the lion face to be defined but maybe not so obvious.

And I was thinking....maybe Heidi is right in her comment. I had not seen Prince Caspian til this morning when I took 2 of 3 children to the morning matinee. I didn't know/had forgotten about Lucy and the Trees.

Also thought I'd link backwards in time to my Chronicles of Narnia college story.

Happy Sunday!

coffee from heaven

I've mentioned before that since, about Christmas time, I'd received free/complimentary coffee more times than I can count. In my 20 years of coffee drinking, I can't remember ever getting a free cup. Now I've lost count. I can think of no rational explanation for it except either: this particular st. arbucks has the most generous complimentary coffee policy ever or, God really does love me and gets a kick out of this. I probably only drink a cup a day, often as a break to listen to the birds or talk to a friend. I drink tea in quantity, but coffee in quality. As goofy as it may sound, I often think there might be other things floating in that coffee. Maybe a bit of hope is in there too.

(A 2 x 3" artist's trading card I did a while back)

56 (don't mean much)

That's Ethan's number. And not his sleep number. It's the number I knew was out there, but didn't really want to know. In his yearly school review it was mentioned in his report, which the administrators were kind enough to gloss over. That number would be his IQ, give or take a few points. He had to be tested for school related reasons.

I think I was ready to hear it though because it seems so irrelevant now. 56....and? So what. He also can't speak well and has some, uh, unusual habits (don't we all).

When he was just a young pup, my mind whirled through a million facts and statistics that left me somewhat fearful about the future. Average potty training age- 5, IQ-50, ear infections, heart problems, feeding problems....the list was quite endless...and overwhelming. Yes, he  wore diapers for 5 years (which isn't so bad), apparently his IQ is lower than normal, no ear infections, though one of his ears isn't in the normal range, no heart problems, feeding problems fixed. Life with Ethan is normal, but different.

In case you haven't met him or seen him before, here's his glamor shot from last year. In the strangest of twists, occasionally a school photo does turn out particularly well and actually captures something special. This is the face of the one who usually wakes me up in the morning (our little rooster).

I asked my mother why there weren't any kids with down syndrome around when I was a kid. Abortion was still illegal and there was no prenatal testing. She said she didn't know. Families were much quieter about such things back then. They were probably sent off to an institution because they were told it was in the best interest of the family and the child. Makes my heart sink.

And just for historical facts I will throw in that back at the turn of the 20th century 90% of the children born with down syndrome didn't make it to age 6. Why? Probably because of the heart, digestion and immunity troubles I briefly mentioned before. So much can be done for these kids to help them out now through medical technology, improved nutrition and various therapies.

Now 90% of down syndrome pregnancies detected in the womb are terminated. I don't know what to say. It breaks my heart break and eugenics make my skin crawl. I'm just barely "pro-choice". Meaning that I don't think abortion should be illegal, and I think women should have a choice. That being said, I obviously would pray for one choice over another in most circumstances.

You know, I feel bad even throwing in this sort of talk with him. Ethan is Ethan. Down syndrome is a fact, but it doesn't define who God created him to be.

Anyhow, enough about that. Ethan, who is so full of personality that he has about 50 nicknames, is going to be 6 in a few days. Yippee! He adores parties. Watch out world when our little party animal gets older.

painting again

I haven't painted anything since my germination painting some time ago. Seemed like all my creativity had dried up. Even my designs were rehashes of old territory. As much as I dislike the dry spells, I've come to accept them, well, more so than I used to. And it's always a relief to find fresh water in the well (usually when I'm not expecting it). New designs have leapt into my sketchbook and even the start of a new painting:

Here's the outline which I started on Tuesday. I always get nervous about applying paint after this stage. Such a nice outline could take a bad turn and eventually wind up in the garage (the "land of misfit paintings").

But after the first layer of watered down acrylics, I am still optimistic about this one. There is a penciled in lion face in the background which, in a process unknown to me at this time, should become integrated into the painting.

I dare not  breathe a sigh of relief that my creativity dry spell has been completely broken quite yet. It has taken me by surprise. I had forgotten how wholly consuming the process is. Food and friends suddenly become optional or even impositions in this realm. And as for the children....they can fend for themselves- right? There are things not to like about being in this place.

I've also noticed a pattern for me emerging, that creativity surges can be brought on or linked to people. This time seemingly brought by a visitor from a greener, forested, northern coastal land. So what can I say? Thank you Father. I'll ride these waves as long as I can. 

new day, new chapter

It could be a Chicken Little Day. Yes, the bees are dying, and the birds and now the bats. My husband has no job. The price of food and gas is soaring to new heights. But what's inconvenient for us is devastating for others in far (or not so far) off places. But somehow I feel fine. I don't know if this is faith or denial or both.

I guess this is the opening paragraph for the new chapter in our lives on my blog where I can be as random as I please.