1/30/10

On the first day of my 55th year I look forward with wonder to the adventures ahead and changes to come.

See more progress on: reflect daily in a 'one sentence' journal

January 2010 Photo 11

I love the moss
on the tree
but am mystified
why one of the
trunks is
mossless

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January 2010 Photo 10

What a surprise
to see frogs
in a beauty
salon
fun to watch

See more progress on: Take and post 10 photos a month in 2010

1/29/10

Spending the day on the phone meant that I did not get a chance to do all of the writing that I was supposed to complete yesterday and now must work on over my birthday weekend.

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January 2010 Photo 0

The rain cleared
for a few days
and this
spectacular sunset
appeared.

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January 2010 Photo 8

Classic mission
architecture
in Los Angeles
Union Station

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FTF Weekend of January 29th

Stayed home today because I have a lot of writing to do but spent the ENTIRE day on the phone so now I will have to do some work on my birthday week-end

hair appointment
massage
write case studies and marketing materials
eat fruit
take vitamins
yoga
grocery store
celebrate
nap and rest

See more progress on: do first things first

1/28/10

Why is it that when I say something to my team it is not taken seriously but when a client/man says the exact same thing people sit up and take notice?

See more progress on: reflect daily in a 'one sentence' journal

1/27/10

How wonderful to see the sun and the clarity of the air in Los Angeles after so many days of rain!

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1/26/10

Took the dog for a walk around the valley in the rain this morning and enjoyed watching him run through the field and splash in the creek, even though the rest of the day was spent in worry about his change in medications and apparent over-sedation.

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11 days since I last spoke with the vet

Seems like a record. Called the vet last night since Kona was vomiting yesterday and is really sedated again. The vomiting is worrisome because it is either his liver (really bad), his reaction to the potassium bromide (kinda bad) or he got into something that didn’t agree with him (not bad). He is losing his back legs and seem really sedated, nodding out like a heroin addict. The vet was concerned about his liver, but pleased that he hasn’t had any break through seizures (24 days so far). So we are cutting back his phenobarb again and if he does not have any break through seizures will cut it back again in 5 days. I stayed home with him today in case he has a seizure (and I’m not feeling that good either). I took him for a walk this morning and he had so much fun running through the field and down into the creek, which he loves when it is running. He was chest deep in water and having a ball. Now he is asleep ON my feet.

See more progress on: Do a better job of managing Kona's seizures

1/25/10

More rain and a consultant whining about payment kept me focused on things that were not my highest and best use.

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1/24/10

Feeling extremely sluggish and fatigued meant that I did not leave the house for two days and spent the day napping and reading.

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Movie 1 Inglourious Basterds

Definitely a Quentin Tarentino movie

See more progress on: keep track of all the movies I watch in 2010

1/23/10

Still not feeling well so hung out at home all day and watched a movie.

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Week-end of January 22nd

whew, that goodness the week is over. All of the big storms really impacted travel and kept all of California cold and wet. My sil and dn were both released from the hospital today so I want to stay close to home in case anyone needs help. mrrad has a board meeting all weekend so Kona and I will get to spend some quality time together also.

grocery store
finish one PAD book-really
clean up laptop
read
yoga
make vitamin packs
take vitamins
eat fruit
clean out fireplace
order make-up
order pants
snuggle with mrrad

See more progress on: do first things first

1/22/10

Stormy weather is on the way out but not without creating havoc in the air traffic control system which delayed my flight home from San Diego.

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1/21/10

It was a quiet day in the office, but still I was unable to complete the white papers that are due tomorrow.

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1/20/10

A very bumpy take-off portended a day of rain and wind.

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1/19/10

Awakened by rolling thunder at 4 a.m., downpours throughout the day interspersed with periods of sun and one spectacular rainbow over the Bay Bridge.

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January 2010 Photo 7

Thunderstorms
across the Bay area
Sun comes out
and a rainbow appears
from the Bay Bridge

See more progress on: Take and post 10 photos a month in 2010

Almost done!

My will and advance directive is done, signed and witnessed. mrrad’s is also done, but just needs to be signed and witnessed.

See more progress on: draft a will

1/17/10

I was grinning ear to ear as I listened to the rough cut demo that my husband’s band recorded today…they rocked!

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1/16/10

Homemade tomato soup, a grilled cheese sandwich and a nap make for a very comforting winter day of hibernation.

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January 2010 Photo 5/6

West Coast Cities
each have a
Chinatown
and each have a gate
Los Angeles and
San Francisco

See more progress on: Take and post 10 photos a month in 2010

Week-end of January 15th

a full week this week, but there is nothing on the agenda this weekend. Storms are on the way, so will hibernate inside this weekend.

Grocery store
MUST PAY BILLS
finish laundry
finish one PAD book
clean up laptop
update wills and print
figure out schedule for the next few weeks
water plants
read
rest and get better
yoga
eat fruit
take vitamins
make soup

See more progress on: do first things first

1/15/10

The lunch was at times difficult and uncomfortable, but in the end went much better than anticipated.

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January 2010 Photo 4

Sheep butt

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January 2010 Photo 3

Typical
January day
in San Francisco
foggy

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January 2010 Photo 2

“I know its
in there somewhere”
Kona was beak-deep
in his gingerbread house
looking for the elusive
treat

See more progress on: Take and post 10 photos a month in 2010

January 2010 Photo 1

I started the year with
a migraine
A few pills
provide welcome relief
the nap helped too

See more progress on: Take and post 10 photos a month in 2010

1/14/10

Scratchy throat, not enough sleep and too many deadlines, made the short day seem very long.

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1/13/10

Another call to the vet, another change in meds, another worrisome day about my poor puppy.

See more progress on: reflect daily in a 'one sentence' journal

The vet is my new bff.

Yesterday mrrad received a call from our housekeeper that Kona had diarreha in the house. I called the vet again, since Kona has also been pretty sedated lately. He seems to be losing his back legs and has had a bit incontinence. So, we’re now cutting back on his phenobarbal, cut out all the herbs for a while and then prescribed an antidiarrehal. Kona woke me up at 2:00 am this morning and he really had to go out. He jumped up on the 4’ high wall in order to head up the hill. He hasn’t done that for a while. Today he seems more like himself.

See more progress on: Do a better job of managing Kona's seizures

1/12/10

Unexpected gift of handcrafted glass necklace from former client and wonderful dinner at Tamari in LA.

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1/11/10

Flight eleven on one eleven one oh, back to LA again, for the love of ones.

See more progress on: reflect daily in a 'one sentence' journal

A new photo goal

After completing a photo a day for a year in 2009, I want to continue to take photographs regularly but do not want the pressure of having to do so everyday. If I overacheive that is just fine. My replacement camera should be here tomorrow. I took over 14,000 photos with my point and shoot. And this goal does not require only the point and shoot, other cameras from my collection are invited to the party as well. So watch this space for the continuation of the photographic journey.

See more progress on: Take and post 10 photos a month in 2010

1/10/10

New goal for the year is behind, must catch up, briefly.

See more progress on: reflect daily in a 'one sentence' journal

1/9/10

Personal maintenance day, all above the shoulders.

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1/8/10

Eleven years since dad passed, the first and last thought of the day.

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1/7/10

Birthdays and orthodox christmas is celebrated on this day.

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1/6/10

How many possible variations of a stacking diagram can there be?

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1/5/10

WTF . . . back on a plane again.

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1/3/10

Being prepared for the bad times, girl scout training and my “planner” mind come to life while preparing Mom’s advanced directives.

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1/4/10

Garland and lights back in the box for another year.

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1/3/10

Garland and lights back in the box for another year.

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1/2/10

Blood, panting, and destruction poor Kona had an unattended seizure.

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1/1/10

Migraine headache and drugs equals nice nap during Rose Bowl.

See more progress on: reflect daily in a 'one sentence' journal

How to take a photo a day for 365 days, to document.

"It was an amazing, although at times tedious, journey."

How I did it: I carried my point and shoot camera with me everywhere.  There is a special pocket on the outside of my purse that holds it so it is always easily accessible for those shots that I would just happpen upon.  I would upload my pictures on a daily basis (most of the time), edit them, and then choose one as the shot of the day.  I uploaded all of the best shots to my flickr account and then would post the shot under my goal (as well as to my blog).

Because there were so many good shots that were my favorites, I created a quarterly "favorite shots" book on blurb.com.  I also created a book that features the "shot of the day"  They are really nice coffee table books and gives me an opportunity to look back over the year and recognize how much beauty I've encountered and to see how my "eye" has developed.

The best part-it made me slow down and look around me every day and see things that I normally would rush right past.  I "saw" so much this year.

Lessons & tips: ALWAYS keep your camera with you.  A smaller point and shoot is much easier to carry around than a dslr (which might have better quality but will become too big to always have with you).  Take as many shots as you want, you can always edit or delete.  And remember you get to make the rules, so it if you miss a day, choose more the next.  Just keep doing it.  Not every picture is a masterpiece.  At the end you will have a great documentary of the year.

And remember-slow down and look around.  It is amazing what you will see, even in the most mundane things in life.

Resources: Canon powershot SX110IS (a slightly more advanced point and shoot)
Canon Rebel T1i (for those few times I wanted shots that my point and shoot could not handle well)
Microsoft Office picture manager software (very simple photo editing software, although Photoshop would also work well if one know how to use it (which I don't)
 www.blurb.com book publishing software and service.  Probably one of the more cost effective services with a lot of flexibility in creating the book(s)

It took me 365 days.

It made me observant

See more progress on: Take a photo a day for 365 days, to document

FTF Weekend of January 9th

Only back one week and already tired. Of course, a migraine this week probably had something to do with it. One day this weekend is busy, the other is not.

meet with L
hair appointment
mani/pedi?
grocery store
housewarming party
yoga
pay bills
finish Q4 PAD book
read
modify and reprint wills
make vitamin packs
eat fruit
take vitamins

See more progress on: do first things first

Another talk with the vet

Kona went in for blood work today. His blood phenobarb level is down, out of the toxic level. His liver enzymes haven’t changed much though. We’re supposed to increase his potassium bromide and leave his phenobarb the same for a few weeks and then call again. His blood protein is still low too. So he has to stay on his additional food (chicken, eggs and cottage cheese). He seems OK, and he doesn’t seem sick. Hopefully his liver can start to heal itself, unless there is something else going on with it. I guess time will tell.

See more progress on: Do a better job of managing Kona's seizures

FTF Monday January 4th

I am not ready to go back to work. I didn’t sleep well last night, I was hypervigilant about Kona, who did sleep well). I am staying home today to finish up some family/personal stuff, but will check in with work.

principal’s call
marketing call?
take down tree
take mom to have her signature notarized on her advanced directives.
modify wills and reprint so they can be signed this week
eat fruit
take vitamins
make vitamin packs
read
perhaps take Kona for a walk if he is agitated
call Carter
remind Jim to respond to ADPH
grocery store (milk)
call vet
meditate

See more progress on: do first things first

FTF Sunday January 3rd

did not sleep all that well last night worrying about Kona. He seems sedated today and I don’t know if its from the meds, the seizure or his herbs. I’m not leaving him alone until after I talk to the vet tomorrow, which means I am not going to work.

meet with mom and brother to discuss advanced directives
work on Q4 PAD
take vitamins
make vitamin packs
eat fruit
yoga
read for 1 hour
pay bills
water plants
nap

See more progress on: do first things first

An afternoon seizure

We were out this afternoon, leaving Kona snoozing in our bedroom. When we came home, he came down stairs with his tongue hanging out and panting. We both thought he might have had a seizure. I went up stairs, and sure enough, the upstairs was trashed. Mrrad’s electronic drum kit was knocked over, the mouse from the computer was hanging off the desk, there was blood all over the walls at mouth height (he must have bitten his tongue), the glass door on the tv stand was torn off. He must been asleep when it happened. Once he comes out of it he walks into things and has no sense where he is in space. Poor boy, he must have been frightened. We gave him valium when we came home, cleaned up, fed him, gave him his meds, and how he’s laying down.
We’re in the process of changing his meds since he has liver damage from taking phenobarbital. I’m hoping this is just a break-through seizure and does not portend that the other meds don’t work well for him. I had a migraine yesterday, so perhaps he had a seizure in sympathy.

See more progress on: Do a better job of managing Kona's seizures

January 2, 2010

Today I am grateful for

A wonderful holiday season
A scheduled massage
That Kona has gone 5 weeks without a seizure
Good drugs for migraines
a few more days off

See more progress on: Daily: Reflect on at least 5 things for which I'm grateful (Happiness Manifesto #2)

FTF Saturday January 2, 2010

The migraine seems to be gone after a lot of sleeping yesterday. I just have the migraine hangover. A few errands today and contemplation

Pick up herbs for Kona
Trader Joes (eggs and cottage cheese for Kona, good stuff for humans)
Eat Fruit see above
Take vitamins
Pet Food Express for bird food
mani/pedi
massage
pick up cleaning
work on Q4 QAD book
yoga
read for 1 hour
contemplation

See more progress on: do first things first

How to list the movies that I see in 2009

"I realize I don't watch that many movies."

How I did it: Added entries to this goal and my blog after I saw them.  I also added a brief synopsis of the movie and what I thought about it.  Will be itneresting to review over the years.

Lessons & tips: write 'em down

It took me 365 days.

It made me aware

See more progress on: List the movies that I see in 2009

How to keep track of all the books I read in 2009

"I didn't ready nearly as much as I thought I would have."

How I did it: I created an entry for each book that I read in 2009.  I also kept it on my blog.  Its nice to know how much and what I read.  I averaged about a book every two weeks.  I thought I read more, but evidently not.

Lessons & tips: Write 'em down.

It took me 365 days.

It made me well read

See more progress on: Keep track of all the books I read in 2009

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

Interesting book, very loosely based on the life of Laura Bush, about a woman who is surprised to find herself as First Lady.

See more progress on: Keep track of all the books I read in 2009

FTF Friday January 1, 2010

Happy New Year everyone! I slept late this morning, which is highly unusual, but then it became apparent why-MIGRAINE! In some ways it feels like a cleansing of all the bad stuff from last year. Once this goes away I’ll feel alot better. Definitely taking it easy today.

-walk with mrrad and Kona- I only managed a 1/2 mile but that is better than nothing
read 1 hour
-eat fruit- great tangerines must get more
call bff
-put away laundry-
work on Q4 PAD book
call brother

See more progress on: do first things first