NaBloPoMo - Day 19 - Another Day, Another Peacock

From this:

To this:

This is Petey... he is a peacock...

He is the one egg that was laid this year out of about a dozen that actually hatched.

They talk about how hard it is to raise peacocks, but he made it...

He's now definitely a young male peacock...

For a while there, we thought Petey might be a girl,

but within the last couple of weeks, his neck feathers brightened up

and he started tail flapping which will help get those muscles ready

when he is full grown and has his train...

I'm hoping I'll get to see it in three years when he fully matures...

kinda like I waited for Prince's train to come in...

If you remember, I wrote about back in April.

Unfortunately, about 3 weeks ago, he didn't show up in the barn

and a couple of days later I found a clump of white feathers.

Another loss to the bobcat...

I was to the point of crying over this loss...

To raise a pet patiently waiting for that final display 

and then losing it so suddenly was too much to handle.

Not to mention that my mother hand-raised him

it really hit me hard.

Now we're doing everything we can to protect Petey...

But, if there's one thing I've learned being on this property,

you can do everything right and all it takes is a single

moment for everything to suddenly go wrong...

Here's to hoping...

Birthday Month Shuffle - 7th Edition Day 6

I originally posted about this song in 2011...
It carries special meaning, especially this year...
She'll be there...

Over Mountains

Over Trees

Over Oceans

Over Seas

I'll be there

In a whisper on the wind

On the smile of a new friend

Just think of me

And I'll be there

Don't be afraid, oh my love

I'll be watching you from above

And I'd give all the world tonight,

To be with you

Because I'm on your side,

And I still care

I may have died,

But I've gone nowhere

Just think of me,

And I'll be there

On the edge of a waking dream

Over Rivers

Over Streams

Through Wind and Rain

I'll be there

Across the wide and open sky

Thousands of miles I'd fly

To be with you

I'll be there

Don't be afraid, oh my love

I'll be watching you from above

And I'd give all the world tonight,

To be with you

Because I'm on your side,

And I still care

I may have died,

But I've gone nowhere

Just think of me,

And I'll be there

MyPod Birthday Month #19 - Fast Car

my birthday fling fast car...  just a rental... but oh so sweet..!

This song reminds me of being an RA (resident assistant) in the dorms at SDSU.

That summer of 1988, we played this song endlessly while

getting things ready for the incoming residents.

At first the song seems to be one of hope,

then as the song progresses, you realize that her hope is dying

and she is telling her lover to get out of her life.

I think I really heard that today for the first time

when the song came up in the shuffle.

The lyrics read like a poem,

and I think this is why I like the song so much...

Enjoy!

Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere
Anyplace is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we'll make something
Me, myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car
I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
Won't have to drive too far
Just 'cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living

You see my old man's got a problem
He live with the bottle that's the way it is
He says his body's too old for working
His body's too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said somebody's got to take care of him
So I quit school and that's what I did

You got a fast car
Is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way

So remember we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
We go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still ain't got a job
I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You'll find work and I'll get promoted
We'll move out of the shelter
Buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs

I remember we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I'd always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I ain't going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

I remember we were driving, driving in your car
Speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped 'round my shoulder
I had a feeling that I belonged
I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
Leave tonight or live and die this way

On the Threshold of a New Year...

My favorite author Tennyson one wrote:

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come,

whispering "It will be happier..."

Last year at this time I was writing about my hopes and dreams for the upcoming year and thinking about my resolutions;  those I accomplished, those I didn't accomplish, and those I would set forth for the next year.  I wrote about career, travel and family.  I looked forward to a new dog, continuing work on our new home, and darn if that cheetah didn't elude me again.

But, all I have to do to remember the excitement and joy that this last year brought is to look at the over 3500 photos I took this year.  Albeit, about 1500 are probably devoted to just the dogs.  Within a year, we went from a 3 cat household to a three cat, two dog, two goat, two guinea, 13 chicken household.  And, that alone came with it's own share of joys and sadness.

We traveled:  from Tucson, Arizona to Mendocino, California.  Trips to Laughlin, San Francisco, Sacramento.  Disneyland for my birthday!  Camping during the summer to Lakeview, Oregon and down to Hat Creek following the fly boys.  Back to Medford and then down to my home town to get my mother who spent time at our home this year on two separate occasions.

The house got a new look from the outside as work continued.  And, we are so close to finally finishing one room.  Doesn't sound like much, but when you've got a massive home improvement project, it's one room at a time.

Career wise, I started doing shifts at the larger hospital in the area.  I continued as the pre-hospital coordinator and on the county emergency medical committee.  And, I've taken on several projects both in EMS and at my hospital which will continue to add to my leadership roles.  I'm still on several committees with my national organization, and continue to teach and lecture within my group.

As for next year...
 - to run a 5K.  One of my friends at work has challenged me to get back into running.  I've got new shoes.  I've got the Couch to 5K app on my iPhone.  I think I'm set.
 - to get more organized.  For some reason, I used to be the most organized OCD person ever, and that's been sorely lacking in a lot of areas.  I need to find my focus and get coordinated once again.
 - to finish a short story.  I've got so many ideas and partially started projects going that I know I need to stop and focus and finish one... that will lead to two... then three... wash, rinse, repeat
 - to continue to increase the presence of God in my life.  Not that I need any more projects, but to contribute more of my time to the Church.  If anything, to get back into the habit of daily prayer and meditation.
 - to eke out every last bit of joy and fun in the things I do.  We've got several trips planned, and I intend to make next year's photo count even bigger... which might mean I need a new MacBook... darn!
 - and to just lay the foundations for a healthier, happier me... I think that will do the most to change the way I live my life during the upcoming year...

Happy New Years, and may you achieve all your hopes and dreams!!

Welcome 2013!

Birthday Shuffle a Deux #31 Fin!

On Eagles Wings - Kitty Cleveland

I think this is song is appropriate for the final song of this month.

Not only did I spend the day with my husband while he flew with eagles,

today is the one year anniversary of us getting possession of our new home.

Plus this was one of my uncle's favorite songs.

I think the lyrics will carry us through to the next year... enjoy!

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord

Who abide in His shadow for life

Say to the Lord, "My refuge.

My rock in whom I trust."

And, He will life you up

on eagle's wings.

Bear you on the breath of dawn.

Make you to shine like the sun.

And hold you in the palm of His hand.

The snare of the fowler will never capture you.

And famine will bring you no fear.

Under His wing your refuge.

His faithfulness your shield.

And, He will life you up
on eagle's wings.
Bear you on the breath of dawn.
Make you to shine like the sun.
And hold you in the palm of His hand.


You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come. 

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

For to His angels He's given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways,
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone. 

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

myPod Shuffle #12 - Waiting for My Real Life to Begin

Ok, so getting this blog post done early since I have a flight to catch to SoCal later this afternoon, and I won't really have time once I get home. Also, I am departing from the shuffle and putting in a song I find fitting on this birthday because for so long I wondered when my ship would come in, and for the first time in many years I actually feel as though my real life has begun.

I can still remember sitting as a surgical resident on-call in Minnesota just wondering where I was headed. Was I meant to stay in surgery, should I be thinking about another residency, could I make it through the next 12 hours? I know in one of my written journals I have the words to this song written out because I was scared and confused. Thinking that at my age at that time just a short 5 years ago, I should know what I was doing. Actually, I should already be there. While friends and colleagues my own age were looking at marriage or divorce or their first child/house/promotion, etc, I still hadn't even finished residency and was looking at a long path ahead.

Now I've completed a residency, I've bought a house we'll soon be working on and moving into, I think I've arrived. And, today on my birthday, I am looking toward the future with hope and excitement for the first time in many years...

I included the "Scrubs" version of the song on top which is where I first heard it. Here's the original version of the song... it starts about 2:21 into the video, but Colin Hays is definitely worth listening to regardless, so enjoy!

NaBloPoMo Day 15

Well, are you sick of my daily blogging yet?  It's actually kind of hard to come up with something to write every day, but it has given me something to do as a creative outlet...  Since I am halfway done with the NaBloPoMo challenge, I started thinking about halves:  halfway, half full, half-baked, half the calories, etc, and I really liked the idea of writing about optimism and seeing the world as a glass that is half-full.


I have a test to take on Thursday that will clear me to take another test in 5 - 8 months.  Then I will be done with tests... for about 10 years.  Do I think I'm ready...? Heck no.  Do I think I'll pass...?  Maybe.  Am I worried about it...?  Just a little.  I felt less prepared for my USMLE Part III exam and did well.  I was freaking out about my USMLE Part II exam and obviously passed.  So, I'm the eternal optimist.


So as not to take up too much time... I need to sleep to get up and keep studying tomorrow... I thought I would share a poem by Emily Dickinson entitled "Hope."

Hope     

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.