Beep… beep… beep… “Breathe Christine, come on you have to take a breath” beep… beep… beep… “Christine, you HAVE to breathe!” beep… beep… beep… I just want to be left alone to sleep. Don’t make me try to breathe, it hurts.
That was three years ago this month. I’d had a brain tumor (benign) for a few years but started having odd symptoms that I couldn’t explain. My doctor scheduled an MRI. The results showed that the tumor had grown double in size and was in an area of my brain that would cause seizures if it continued to grow. The recommendation was to take it out.
There was a good chance I could die. I wanted a family picture before I went in for surgery. I was afraid that would be the last image they would see of me.
After surgery my motor skills were virtually non existent. I couldn’t pick up small objects with my fingers. I had difficulty with hand eye coordination. For someone who is on a keyboard for a living, this is not good. I asked for some cheerios. I poured some out on my tray table and kept practicing picking one up, putting it in a container, picking up another and putting it in the container. I would do this over and over again until I was too tired to do it anymore.
Recovery was difficult. But I am very lucky. Some of the people that have had this same surgery have been left unable to form let alone retrieve words, unable to walk without assistance and unable to care for themselves.
I discovered Zentangle through a series of amazing events. It still blows my mind to imagine how much I needed Zengangle in my life. (you can read more about it here http://bossycow.net/zentangle-discovery-2/) I suffer from headaches on a daily basis. The process of Zentangle has allowed me to get away from the pain. I find myself in a zen state of relaxation all because of the Zentangle method. I’m thankful every day for the Certified Zentangle teacher who gave me the opportunity to do something that helps me heal. I want to become a Certified Zentangle teacher so that I have the credentials and ability to teach others who have been in the same or similar circumstances as me. I’ve started a GoFundMe campaign so that I can do just that. https://www.gofundme.com/czbq84v5
Zentangle is the one thing that lets me focus and just breathe.
Tonight was going to be a good night to relax and regroup. Things can change like lightning.
I drove home from work this evening heading toward sunny skies. As I got nearer my destination, the skies started to darken and lightning flashed in the distance. It was a beautiful sight, all that flashing light in the darkening sky. As I got closer, the weather picked up intensity with rain pelting the car faster and faster. Soon I was slowing down with traffic to a near crawl. Visibility was poor and the roads were like being in a river. Cars were stopped under overpasses as dime sized hail bounced off the car with a pinging that sounded more like bbs hitting the metal.
It wasn’t too long until I was through the storm and back into sunny skies. Those sunny skies didn’t last long. I barely made it home before the beginning of the storm started again.
In the kitchen we were making dinner as the storm lashed out it’s fury. The wind was blowing sideways and lightning was flashing. In the blink of an eye, half our tree was gone.
Bradford Pear Tree, Spring 2011Amanda ready for prom 2011
The tree was part of our lives. It survived 12 years with our family giving us shade, blooming in the Spring and providing a great view from the kitchen window. Now are view is not as pretty.
Split in two
In a flash, it all changed.
In the middle of the road…
The tree covered half of the road. Traffic was blocked and there were branches everywhere. And so the work begun.
Mike pulled out a chainsaw. After a few slices, the chainsaw died. Next came the handsaw followed by a series of handsaws until one by one the blades dulled. As Mike went in a hopeful search of a replacement blade, Christopher and I dragged branch after branch into a pile in the back yard. On one trip back to the mess in the road, we saw a jeep stop and a stranger with a chainsaw came to our rescue. His name is Ben. He said, “As I was jogging by, I noticed you trying to cut up the tree with a handsaw. I have a chainsaw, would you like some help?”
Wow, a stranger willing to help someone he didn’t know. Those kind of people are few and far between. Pretty soon, neighbors came out of their houses and helped take down the tree.
All that is left
Soon the work was done and all that is left is a huge pile of branches filling up the yard, and a reminder that on August 1, 2011 a Summer storm struck our tree and brought out good neighbors and a new friend with a chainsaw.
The after math
We are thankful for good neighbors and a stranger (now friend) with a chainsaw.
Mama C, the Lizzie B Girls and I made it to Minneapolis, MN. blah blah blah
Dinner was at the Melting Pot. We made sure there was a balanced ending to our meal.
Check out the Lizzie B Cre8ive blog for more of the week’s antics. I was the guest blogger and though I had fun doing it, it was too much to try to keep up 2 blogs during the week. I really don’t know how people do this on a daily basis. It takes a LOT of time.
There were many new friends (like Elliott) made. Much fun was had with old friends.
Quilt Market is something that will wear you out but is fun at the same time.
I’m sitting at my chiropractor’s office writing a blog post. Why? you may ask. Well it’s my punishment for doing a good deed. I of course, talk to everyone and was checking out when the staff mentioned that they had a problem with their wireless. I just happened to have my geeky son with me so I volunteered his services. Duh! It’s never as easy as it seems and I’m still waiting. It’s going on 45 minutes now and I had plans for this morning.
I’ve checked Facebook, surfed the web on my phone and taken a couple of calls about an alarm going off at my parent’s house. Now what?!
I know the economy isn’t great right now. I’ve been aware of it for a while but knowing doesn’t really make things easier does it. I’ve spent countless hours searching and applying for jobs, going on interviews, sending thank you notes and waiting to hear anything. Then when I go looking, what do I see? The same job postings for the same positions that I’ve applied for. It is extremely frustrating! One company even had me waiting while they hired the “team” that I would be working with. Their offer was so sweet that why wouldn’t I hold out for the job? Oh I know, it is because they couldn’t get the right people for the team and since the economy is bad, they decided to scrap the whole thing!
So what does an out of work web designer do in between job searches? I do the one thing that I love that doesn’t make me gain weight and allows me to relax. I take pictures.
I spent some time with a friend who took me up to the mountains of American Fork in Utah. It was beautiful with the sun shinning and the fresh snow. The air was crisp with a slight chill but the time I was able to spend shooting pictures and just regrouping was priceless. It always amazes me how much just being out in nature and away from the computer can help me to de-stress. Well, that is until the next crisis happens, or in my case, my garage catching fire. I’ll write about that later but for now, relax and breathe in the crisp cool air and picture yourself in the mountains with me.
I know the economy isn’t great right now. I’ve been aware of it for a while but knowing doesn’t really make things easier does it. I’ve spent countless hours searching and applying for jobs, going on interviews, sending thank you notes and waiting to hear anything. Then when I go looking, what do I see? The same job postings for the same positions that I’ve applied for. It is extremely frustrating! One company even had me waiting while they hired the “team” that I would be working with. Their offer was so sweet that why wouldn’t I hold out for the job? Oh I know, it is because they couldn’t get the right people for the team and since the economy is bad, they decided to scrap the whole thing!
Sparkling River
So what does an out of work web designer do in between job searches? I do the one thing that I love that doesn’t make me gain weight and allows me to relax. I take pictures.
Frozen Lake
I spent some time with a friend who took me up to the mountains of American Fork in Utah. It was beautiful with the sun shinning and the fresh snow. The air was crisp with a slight chill but the time I was able to spend shooting pictures and just regrouping was priceless. It always amazes me how much just being out in nature and away from the computer can help me to de-stress. Well, that is until the next crisis happens, or in my case, my garage catching fire. I’ll write about that later but for now, relax and breathe in the crisp cool air and picture yourself in the mountains with me.
There are animals all around us. The personalities of children closely resemble animals that most of us are familiar with: the Tasmanian devil, bossy cow, chameleon, donkey, monkey and the doe. Even if we don’t have animals of our own, we still come in contact with some of these animals when we least expect it. I will classify the six animal categories that I come in contact with weekly. Maybe some of you will recognize these animals. Perhaps you’ve seen them on your weekly outings.
Imagine that you are at the grocery store minding your own business and picking out the brightest red strawberries. Suddenly out of nowhere, you hear a high-pitched scream. The noise is so intense that you feel as if you should now have holes in your eardrums. You grab your head and let your strawberries fall to the floor. “What was that horrible noise,” you ask yourself once the noise has ceased. After picking up your now bruised strawberries, you peak around the corner into the next isle. There in a cart is a beautiful blonde child with the sweetest looking face and big, blue eyes, holding a box of Lucking Charms. Who would ever suspect that this beautiful creature is a Tasmanian devil?
<strong>The Tasmanian devil</strong>: This animal appears as a good-natured, wonderful child until he wants something that he sees. When that all-important item is seen, a loud piercing scream can be heard from one end of the store to another. This child will get what he wants just so that the parent of the Tasmanian devil can avoid embarrassment as well as the inevitable headache that can follow one of the outbursts. The Tasmanian devil does not limit outbursts to stores. These high-pitched screams can be heard in various neighborhoods as well as within the confines of one’s own home.
<strong>The Bossy Cow</strong>: The bossy cow is not quite as obvious as the Tasmanian devil but can be just as treacherous to control. Many oldest children fit into this category. This child tends to tell everyone around her what to do and how to do it. This child will always believe that he knows best and won’t hesitate to tell you so. This child can quote statistics that will sometimes surprise adults as well as make them feel uneducated. In a family situation, where many bossy cows may exist, big problems can occur. I have seen these types of problems first hand when my own family is together. In my family we have three generations of bossy cows. We also have bossy cows that have married into the family. Other animals tend to hide when this herd gets going.
<strong>The Donkey</strong>: This child is the epitome of the phrase “stubborn as a mule”. When the donkey is asked to perform a task that he finds unworthy of his efforts, a great braying can be heard. Sometimes referred to as whining, braying can last for quite a long time. You may have recognized the braying in a sibling or a child. This is the child that when asked to clean his room, sits on the floor and says, “But I don’t want to.” The word is “want” is drawn out and spoken in a very nasal tone when vocalized. If a bossy cow mother has a donkey for a child, many stressful moments can occur.
<strong>The Monkey</strong>: The monkey often appears as an easygoing child with a generally happy temperament. He can be often seen playing outside. The monkey is commonly good at sports and enjoys most outdoor activities. The monkey takes pleasure in many adventures. Unfortunately, when the monkey has gone through his repertoire of activities, he can be often found repeating his mantra. “There’s nothing to do” can be heard over and over again from the monkey. This is especially true in the summer months.
<strong>The Chameleon</strong>: As the name suggests, this child is a master of disguise. He can blend into his environment and appear to be one thing while carrying the traits of a completely opposite personality. Teachers praise this child for the wonderful organizational skills and work habits he has. The neat way that he keeps his desk will often be mentioned, sometimes in reverence. When at home, the chameleon often cannot find his belongings and keeps his room in total disorder. The chameleon’s clothes and personal items can frequently be found scattered throughout the house. When asked to clean his room, the chameleon can sometimes be found lying in the middle of the floor trying to blend into his surroundings so as not to be seen, as a way to get out of digging through the piles to find the floor.
<strong>The Doe</strong>: More often that not, this child is female. In rare instances a male counterpart can be found. This is the most pleasant of thee animals I’ve categorized. The doe usually had big eyes and a sweet disposition. This child is able to convince anyone around her that she should have anything she wants with hardly a word. This child is the easiest to give in to and the hardest to refuse.
As parents, aunts, uncles, brothers or sisters, we are likely to come in contact with at least one of these animals in our lifetimes. The next time you hear the high-pitched scream of the Tasmanian devil or the braying sound of the Donkey, just remember: it is a jungle out there. It is up to us to be prepared.
How do you know if you're a bossy cow?
There are animals all around us. The personalities of children closely resemble animals that most of us are familiar with: the Tasmanian devil, bossy cow, chameleon, donkey, monkey and the doe. Even if we don’t have animals of our own, we still come in contact with some of these animals when we least expect it. I will classify the six animal categories that I come in contact with weekly. Maybe some of you will recognize these animals. Perhaps you’ve seen them on your weekly outings.
Imagine that you are at the grocery store minding your own business and picking out the brightest red strawberries. Suddenly out of nowhere, you hear a high-pitched scream. The noise is so intense that you feel as if you should now have holes in your eardrums. You grab your head and let your strawberries fall to the floor. “What was that horrible noise,” you ask yourself once the noise has ceased. After picking up your now bruised strawberries, you peak around the corner into the next isle. There in a cart is a beautiful blonde child with the sweetest looking face and big, blue eyes, holding a box of Lucking Charms. Who would ever suspect that this beautiful creature is a Tasmanian devil?
The Tasmanian devil: This animal appears as a good-natured, wonderful child until he wants something that he sees. When that all-important item is seen, a loud piercing scream can be heard from one end of the store to another. This child will get what he wants just so that the parent of the Tasmanian devil can avoid embarrassment as well as the inevitable headache that can follow one of the outbursts. The Tasmanian devil does not limit outbursts to stores. These high-pitched screams can be heard in various neighborhoods as well as within the confines of one’s own home.
The Bossy Cow: The bossy cow is not quite as obvious as the Tasmanian devil but can be just as treacherous to control. Many oldest children fit into this category. This child tends to tell everyone around her what to do and how to do it. This child will always believe that he knows best and won’t hesitate to tell you so. This child can quote statistics that will sometimes surprise adults as well as make them feel uneducated. In a family situation, where many bossy cows may exist, big problems can occur. I have seen these types of problems first hand when my own family is together. In my family we have three generations of bossy cows. We also have bossy cows that have married into the family. Other animals tend to hide when this herd gets going.
The Donkey: This child is the epitome of the phrase “stubborn as a mule”. When the donkey is asked to perform a task that he finds unworthy of his efforts, a great braying can be heard. Sometimes referred to as whining, braying can last for quite a long time. You may have recognized the braying in a sibling or a child. This is the child that when asked to clean his room, sits on the floor and says, “But I don’t want to.” The word is “want” is drawn out and spoken in a very nasal tone when vocalized. If a bossy cow mother has a donkey for a child, many stressful moments can occur.
The Monkey: The monkey often appears as an easygoing child with a generally happy temperament. He can be often seen playing outside. The monkey is commonly good at sports and enjoys most outdoor activities. The monkey takes pleasure in many adventures. Unfortunately, when the monkey has gone through his repertoire of activities, he can be often found repeating his mantra. “There’s nothing to do” can be heard over and over again from the monkey. This is especially true in the summer months.
The Chameleon: As the name suggests, this child is a master of disguise. He can blend into his environment and appear to be one thing while carrying the traits of a completely opposite personality. Teachers praise this child for the wonderful organizational skills and work habits he has. The neat way that he keeps his desk will often be mentioned, sometimes in reverence. When at home, the chameleon often cannot find his belongings and keeps his room in total disorder. The chameleon’s clothes and personal items can frequently be found scattered throughout the house. When asked to clean his room, the chameleon can sometimes be found lying in the middle of the floor trying to blend into his surroundings so as not to be seen, as a way to get out of digging through the piles to find the floor.
The Doe: More often that not, this child is female. In rare instances a male counterpart can be found. This is the most pleasant of thee animals I’ve categorized. The doe usually had big eyes and a sweet disposition. This child is able to convince anyone around her that she should have anything she wants with hardly a word. This child is the easiest to give in to and the hardest to refuse.
As parents, aunts, uncles, brothers or sisters, we are likely to come in contact with at least one of these animals in our lifetimes. The next time you hear the high-pitched scream of the Tasmanian devil or the braying sound of the Donkey, just remember: it is a jungle out there. It is up to us to be prepared.
Welcome to BossyCow.net. This is a blog that was created as a way to share. Here you’ll find links to travels that I’ve made as well as rants and vents about my quest for employment in this ever declining economy. I currently live in Pennsylvania and love it here. I love the fact that we are able to see all four seasons and enjoy them for however long they happen to last. For more about why Bossy Cow, see the About page. In the meantime, welcome!
