Today I am sharing another gem brought to you via Facebook. It’s a video from you tube. It’s a powerful poem about bullying. I think everyone should see it. It does not need a lengthy explanation, it speaks for itself.
Bravo Shane Koyczan Bravo!
Beware of Holes in the Ground
A few weeks ago I fell in love in a with a darling dog at Central Arizona Animal Rescue (C.A.A.R.) in Queen Creek, Arizona. Her sweet face popped up on my Facebook page and it was instant love. Within in seconds I contacted Mike at C.A.A.R., made plans to go visit this sweet little pup and quickly named her, Clairie. I fell fast and hard for her golden cuddly face. As I was staring at her picture and looking over C.A.A.R.’s webpage I was inspired to do some volunteer work for them. In a few days I made my first visit to see my precious Clairie and turn in my volunteer application to Mike which he gladly accepted. Friday was my first volunteer day and my second visit with Clairie.
It was beautiful day in Arizona. There were abundant blue skies and a gentle breeze under the bright Arizona sunshine. Perfect day for walking dogs, lots of dogs. I knew that I was going to love more than just my Clairie but it’s okay, they have some great dogs there and I have lots of love. 
After a morning of dog walking, Mike had another project that needed to be completed. It involved putting some paver stones around the edges of a few kennels and then filling in the kennel dirt floor with sand where some rambunctious doggies had tried to make a daring escape by digging their way out. The task was not too complicated. Fill the wheelbarrow with pavers, line the kennel, fill the wheelbarrow with sand, filled in around pavers with sand and repeat process until kennel is complete. Kind of like wash, rinse and repeat only grittier.
So, my son, Matthew and I were steadily chipping away at the paver pile when something unexpected happen; I fell in a hole.
Yep, that’s what happen. Well, more precisely, the ground I was standing on cleverly disguised a huge hole and being the damp cheeky soil that it was that day, it caved in and THEN I fell in the big hole. Most of me landed inside the hole however my left leg decided to perform a strange variation of the twist while it remained above ground. I sat frozen for a few minuets, assessing the situation while William, a playful Shepard mix kept bringing me a dog toy because apparently he thought that while I was on his level, we should play a game of fetch. Matthew managed to lure William away and then hoisted me up out of my precarious position. Once I was back on my feet I decided I was okay enough to take two Tylenol and keep working.
Stubborn me woke up on Saturday unable to use my leg and foot at all. My entire leg was swollen and in teeth clenching pain. Hobbling around was barely possible so walking was completely out of the question. Resigning to a day of camping out on the couch, I implemented a battle plan to get me back into action by Monday morning. Elevate the leg, ice, ibuprofen and repeat, all day. My BFF Cindy assisted the rescue operation by bringing me one of those fashionable clunky black boots to wear. While the boot does tend to clash with my fashion sense it helps tremendously with walking, well hobbling at least.
While yesterday was frustrating, today is better. I am getting around the house better with the help of the boot and am still working the battle plan desperately trying to make it to my classes on Monday morning. Getting lots of thinking and writing done since I can not do much else. Not sure if that is a good idea but it is what it is. Good news though, we did get both kennels repaired for new arrivals at C.A.A.R. and I squeezed in a visit with Clairie.
Isn’t she a doll! Hoping the doors will open up so I can bring her home with me…
Till next time, take care and beware of holes in the ground!
Jamie
This made me laugh today
So, my plan to blog every Monday has turned into blog on Tuesday but, well, whatever LOL. I am trying to blog more. 
This morning I was patrolling Facebook and a friend of mine posted this picture that just cracked me up. Found it so amusing that it was worth a share here. Guess it’s so funny because I hear Pepe the shrimp saying “Run my little crazy friend!” Maybe it’s a personal warning. LOL.
At lease I get a hug at the end and we all know hugs are good, well they are good if they are from the right person…if not they are just creepy…oh…different post there. LOL!
It’s Monday,right?
Yesterday was supposed to be blog day. I did sit down and composed half of a really long post then I tucked it away in the saved drafts. Not quite sure if I am ready to post that particular post. When the timing is right I’ll dig it out. Who knows, maybe next week.
Anytime something comes across our paths more than once I believe it’s one of those whispers that we should pay attention too. So, yesterday morning and then again at 5 am this morning this quote came across my path…
“Making a big life change is pretty scary. But, know what’s even scarier? Regret.” ~ unknown
Yesterday I did my best to ignore these words of wisdom. Not sure I was successful because I was an emotional wreck all day, did not sleep well and awoke this morning to the same internal upheaval swirling deep inside. I tried to get up and hit the floor running for a busy day but then I checked my email and well, Love brought these words to me again.
“Making a big life change is pretty scary. But, know what’s even scarier? Regret.” ~ unknown
For the past month or so I’ve been dealing with or better to say, I’ve been trying to control some pretty deep feelings. I have not really been dealing with them, just trying to keep them from spinning out control like an emotional tornado. I keep telling myself to take a deep breath and keep walking, eventually those feelings will go away. Well, they are not going away. They are gaining strength and picking up speed. I feel certain an ambush is coming my way. So, yesterday I finally conceded to at least acknowledge and name these unfriendly emotional fiends,largely due to this quote.When I read this quote for the second time this morning, it screamed a little louder at me and I could see the truth in it, the truth in myself.
Truth is…I have been making some pretty big life changes in the past year and I am scared. Scared of what it all means. Scared of what it doesn’t mean. Scared of what I have to face up too or cut loose from my life to make the changes set in concrete. Scared of the unknown and the uncertainty in the path I am choosing. I’m scared that all my plans will never happen but then I am scared that maybe dreams do come true. Scared. That’s me. I am scared
Now, here’s where the wisdom in this quote screamed loudly and kicked me in the butt. “know what’s even scarier? Regret.” Aw, yuck! REGRET! Really? It had to go there didn’t it. As terrified as I am of the unknown results of my life changes that I have been I am petrified of regret. I am frozen at the thought of not achieving my goals because I chose not too. There is nothing stopping me from trying so if I don’t shed the scary the feelings, I could end up one day sitting alone with the Spirit and have Him remind me that the only reason certain things never happened in my life was because of my own choices! Ouch!
The past month has been surrounded with the thought or belief, “Your life is a result of your choices.” or “The life you get is the one you choose.” Feel like screaming “Okay, I get it! Get past your fears because regret makes a strange bedfellow.”
“Making a big life change is pretty scary. But, know what’s even scarier? Regret.” ~ unknown
Yep, change is scary but the idea of living with regret is even scarier. So today I am taking another scary step and facing some of these swirling, twirling scary feelings because there is no way I making regret my partner. Be patient and say a prayer…
Now I have…
Guilt! Blog guilt that is. 
For months now I have been battling a serious case of “busyness” and it’s building up to some guilt about not getting to certain things. Paper work is backing up, clutter is starting to gather in my closets ( and I hate, hate clutter), there’s dusting to do, I never even mailed my Christmas cards and then there is a constant nagging, a gentle nag but a nag none the less, the BLOG….dun, dun, dun.
Ugh! I had lists within lists that I was intending to embrace during winter break from college but, well, nope did not happen and now spring 2013 semester has already started. Two things did happen during break, my life was invaded by a Scott (kilt, broadsword and all) and I fell further behind in my to do list. Both are driving me crazy.
I wrapped up the fall 2012 semester with all A’s. Whoo Hoo! Must admit it felt good to finally see my grades posted and bring home all A’s. Warm fuzzies for me. Originally I had planned to tackle five classes for the spring semester. Slowly, my class list was shaved down to four classes and two classes that I was super eager to take fell by the wayside, lost in a degree plan and one extremely wacky teaching theory that sent me scrambling to the administration office immediately after the first class was over to “get the hell” out of there. Thankfully a very kind academic advisor found me another class that fit both my schedule and my degree plan. Which, I am considering changing…ha ha ha! For now I am taking Math 121- Intermediate Algebra, English 102- research composition, Art History 102-Renaissance to contemporary Art and finally Com 101, Intro to communication. Working toward all A’s again this semester but we’ll see.
On the health and weight loss front. Good and bad news. Good news, I quit smoking. Bad news, weight loss has been at a dead stand still. I have not gained anymore weight but have not lost any more either. Bummed about it but trying to devise a new plan of attack and get back on the train to healthville. Here’s hoping.
Whitelady…I have not forgotten you. I’m sorry! Blog guilt, again.
Have no fear though, I have come up with a plan to relieve my blog guilt. My goal is to post once a week, preferably Mondays. Then I won’t be guilty about ignoring my blog for weeks, my writing will stop backing up in my head and I may find time to read other blogs and respond to comments…makes me sound like a sucky blog parent….ugh….
I believe that there is no amount of disorganization too big that the proper plan can not conquer. So, Mondays it is.
I think college is…
A vortex! I am pretty sure that I did something else besides go to class, homework, studying and thinking. Oh wait, that was before I started school in August, LOL!! I knew that college at 42 years old was going to be a challenge but I had no idea that it would consume my days. Maybe it’s easier for all those young’uns right out of high school to attend class, work and manage a personal life. For me, I’ve not found that to be true. I have school to do then I have school to do and tomorrow I’ll be doing school. LOL! It’s the educational vortex, aghhhhh….sucking in the naive with promises that when you get a degree it will make things better. LOL! (I’m just teasing. I really do see the importance of college) So, since I have math class in a few hours here’s a quick update.
My zany math teacher turned out to be one of my favorite teachers. Never before have I understood what the heck I was doing in math class. She is a 5 foot, 100 lb, math powerhouse! She is always running behind, always forgetting where she put your papers or where the whiteboard markers are and she does these goofy math games that honestly stump us. However, I adore her and I am so thankful that she showed up in my life with her unorthodox approach to learning and taught me math. As for now, I have an A in the class; there may be hope for next semester’s math class.
Computer class, omg! I thought it was it going to be an easy breezy class considering my computer skills but that was before I realized that they actually want you to know what to call the buttons or actions to click on. “Click on that thing there” doesn’t cut it. LOL! Who knew?! Mike knew. Mike, my computer teacher knew. Currently I have an A in this class but I will admit that I find myself saying “click what?” quite often. Thankfully Mike is always there and he is a cup overflowing with Microsoft Office knowledge just don’t be thrown my his fist bump. My first encounter with the “fist bump” was after our first test. He spoke to me briefly about my scores which were a 100 and a 88. Suddenly without warning 60 something, nasal voice, office supply man, real estate man turned computer teacher threw it out there and quietly said,”fist bump”. My eyes flew wide open. I could feel my lips starting to curl up in a broad smile and I took a deep haggard breath not to bust out laughing. To mask my amusement, I gave him the fist bump. Mike makes computer class a laughing riot!
My Introduction to Theater class. What can I say? My love for Theater is what drew me back to college and this class has not failed to be all that I expected. Basically we watch a play and then review it. We hash over plots, set design, costumes, the playwright, the actors and anything else we can think of. Gordan is King of the theater at the college. He been teaching there for over 25 years and has a son currently acting on Broadway. He’s loud, funny, challenging, very liberal and very outspoken. Occasionally he gets up on his soap box and like it or not, doles out fatherly advice to the students. It’s always good advice, too. Not the kind of advice that breeds a crazy life or rips young college students from their parents. No, Gordan’s advice is sound, strong advice. I hope the young kids in class listened. Grade in this class, an A but my biggest claim to fame is the three times that I contributed something to the class discussion and Gordan paused, stared at me and said “In all my years, no student has ever seen that, or said that or caught on that quickly. Hmmm, I will have to think about that.” Score one for the old lady in class! Something in my brain caused the teacher to have to think. Perhaps that is what I will always remember about this class, that I may be older but I have a voice to give to this world and it took a loud, brash, opinionated, liberal, die-hard theater buff to get me to speak up. Thanks Gordan!
And finally, did you know my friend, Whitelady was psychic? Months ago, Whitelady made a bold prediction. She foresaw that I would meet a tall, dark , handsome man and fall in love this semester. She was right on the money. I have fallen in love with more than one tall, dark and handsome man. I met them all in my Introduction to Cinema class. I have fallen heels over head in love with film and the leading me of the glorious black and white era of Hollywood! Cinema class is very similar to my Theater class. We watch movies and then discuss them but we also studied camera angles, lighting, directors, the history of film and so on. I’m very blessed, my Cinema teacher actually wrote the book on Cinema, literally, he wrote our college textbook that we use in class. He has worked in production in Hollywood for over 25 years and can even drop the name Steven Spielberg as a co-worker. About 3 weeks into the semester as I was watching Clark Gable in the movie, It Happened One Night, I lost myself and fell completely in love with film. It’s not just the leading men either. I love the lighting ,the camera shots, the directing…anything to do with film making! So, I made a decision. While my love of Theater brought me back to college, it is my love of film that I am now going to pursue. I have decided to go to film school and master the art of photography and film making.
Look out Hollywood, here I come! Well, in a few more years but I’ll get there.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Just stopping by to wish everyone a safe, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s hoping it’s the best Thanksgiving to date!
Church Photos
Today I listed these two photos at the store. Always had a fascination with church buildings and photographing them. These two are from a local Baptist church that reminded me of a modern take on the old Spanish Missions commonly found here in the desert southwest.
(c) J.C. Dalton- Happy Wallflower’s View
(c) J.C. Dalton- Happy Wallflower’s View
Photography Feature
Hello to all my bloomers out there!
For weeks I have been watching the cornfields in Chandler. As I have been driving by I noticed the most wonderful way the morning sun lights up the cornfields and this morning I finally found time to take a few photos. The November sunrise did not disappoint and I discovered that corn can be quiet beautiful in the early morning. It was a great way to start my day!
Here is the latest photo for sale in my Etsy store – Happy Wallflower’s View.
Sunrise over a cornfield in Chandler, Arizona.
Stop by the store and check it out! There will be more photos coming in the next few weeks. 
)
Jamie
I liked this…
No other reason for this post except to share this quote that a friend of mine posted on Facebook a few days ago. I really like it… maybe you will too.
“The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.” ― Maya Angelou
We hear it all our lives, reach for the stars but when I read this I thought how true, how much wiser would we be if reached for each other’s hearts instead of always gazing upward toward some place dazzling yet far off. Hearts often sit right beside us, share our houses and dinner tables. How often do we actually see them?
