school

Did i tell you i was back at school again? yes...after a 2 year break, i am back.  this is my second semester back! of course, it seems like i am always in school.  i came to the RU campus in 2000 and never left.  between work and 2 graduate programs, i have been there ever since.  i do love it. the work and the school.  last semester, i brought back about 20 books to the library (my old dissertation topic) and hung out in the stacks getting 20 or so new books (on my new dissertation topic).  

picnik formatting into Polaroid 

i am in the stage of the doctoral program in which i am really working on my own except for meeting with my chair from time to time.  it is a difficult stage for me, without the structure.  i loved when i was in classes, and i had exams and papers due on exact days...now it is all up to me and my energy, motivation, and focus.  working full time and fighting cancer impacts all of that, but i actually have more written for my proposal then i have ever in the past!! so i am staying positive here and enjoying it. i am  trying to concentrate on the dissertation without getting extremely overwhelmed (tricky business!).  my friends/peers are helping me feel motivated too - thanks guys!!

snowy campus; Kaimal Mark II lens, Alfred Infrared 'film' 

Kaimal Mark II lens, BlacKeys Supergrain 'film'

more snow!

I am enjoying the pretty, snowy, sunny days.  Before I know it, my snowy thoughts will be left in the dust and I will be constantly scheming ways to see the ocean in the warm weather.  It is funny how much I love the individual seasons equally.  More snow on its way??  

Libby's photo shoot 

It is very cold this weekend but the sun and snow are bright.  Libby came to visit us.  Even though it was only 13 degrees outside, we went up to Eagle Rock to see the snow and the city.  There were only a few other cars at the park on the hill, but the people were viewing from within the heated cars.

Mike, giving an urban city lecture despite low temperatures

the city, out there

social work research, Dali, and CAKE

not necessarily in that order...donna and i went to florida to attend a conference.  we squeezed in some fun between sessions of learning!

we stumbled across a national historic landmark and museum, the henry b. plant museum.  when we saw the sign, i was thinking actual plants...but instead it was a historic landmark, the restored and preserved rooms of a once victorian hotel with worldly treasures from the late 1800's. it was so fun to explore.

social work social work social work research research research...then another break, this time, an intentional mission to Dali and CAKE.  we hoped over to St. Pete's and went to the newly renovated Dali museum  (Dali is one of my favs) and then went to the Jannus Landing and danced to CAKE.  come on, Dali and CAKE in one day? pretty awesome.

{this moment}

Inspirited weekly by SouleMama: {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

snow, 2011

I haven't had any quiet time yet for thinking about my intentions for this new year...I guess that should be one goal - more quiet time for writing and reflecting...I will get to them when I am ready.  This weekend would have been the perfect time but somehow, it just flew by...we had some snow on Friday, Saturday was grey, windy, and cold.  Sunday was sunny and the snow looked beautiful.  We slowly took down the christmas tree.  Winter is wondrous...it may be grey some days, but the sunny, snowy days are worth it!

Seneca...using BlacKeys Super Grain film, Hipstamatic

Seneca had lots of fun at the park today!

Mike had fun too!

Last shot of Christmas Tree 2010...Alfred Infrared Film...Hipstamatic App

{this moment}...SNOW!

A post inspired by SouleMama:

"{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see."

ps. i am very excited for the first snow of 2011.

my intentions for 2011

A long time ago, my friend Jessie and I started brainstorming, drawing, and writing out our goals for each new year.  There were not exactly resolutions, but more like goals from a strengths perspective and there were several different categories for which to fit each goal. We started doing this over 10 years ago! (Can you believe that, Jessie??)  Sometimes, we worked at a tea house, or we discussed it over the phone, west coast to east coast, and once we brainstormed on a plane.  I have introduced my friend Laura to this new year's ritual as well (in Mexico right??).  Some years, I create a visual work with my goals and hang it somewhere so that I can glance at it often throughout the year. Sometimes, Jessie and I send monthly postcard updates on how we were doing with our goals. 

It is about this time, that I look at last years' goals and start thinking about the new year.  Last year, I wrote about going into my second year of living with cancer and how that impacted my goals.  Now, that it has been 2 full years of living with cancer, I am thinking of how I will enjoy and live my third year with happiness despite this awful disease.  I guess time does really help, because each year gets a tiny bit easier. I will always have really bad days but the everyday is much easier than it was last year and WAY easier than it was going starting that first year.  Phew! 

So I am off to brainstorm for 2011.  Maybe I will post a few things I come up with here!