After living in this state for a few years now, I've decided I should get to know it better. I want to explore and hang out with some cows. I think it's actually a really beautiful state. Here are some websites that tell all.
Not pronounced Wes-consin.
www.missprouncer.com
How do you say Chequamegon or Oconomowoc?? What about mayor Dave Cieslewicz? I must say there are words and places and full conversations I haven't had because I don't know how to pronounce these strange words.
Did you know that as America's dairy state, our 1.3 million cows actually produce a years supply of cheese for 86 million people? How much cheese is that? I eat a lot of cheese.
http://agency.travelwisconsin.com/PR/Tourism_Facts/Facts.shtm#FAMOUSWISCONSIN
We lead the country in cranberries and ginseng? Who knew?
We have the nation's largest muskie (a fish), the largest waterpark, and the largest farmer's market, plus the world's largest one day fish fry. Now that's something to be proud of. Oh, don't forget the world's largest display of prepared mustard.
???!!
And what about those Packers? Since Bret Favre isn't going to retire, we can all breathe a sigh of relief (another name I've never pronounced right). That was front page news in these parts. I can sleep at night now.
Did I mention how much I love football?
All and all, it's a strange state. I must say, but with many virtues and beautiful places.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
April is OT month
Happy Occupational Therapy Month everyone!
I can get a little philosophical about my profession but I really do believe in it's foundation.
It's a cool job.
For all of you who are still a little fuzzy about what we do...
Taken from the AOTA website:
"Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational therapy assists people in developing the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives.
Every day, children and adults have or develop health conditions that significantly affect their ability to manage their daily lives. With the help of occupational therapy, many of these individuals can achieve or regain a higher level of independence. When skill and strength cannot be developed or improved, occupational therapy offers creative solutions and alternatives for carrying out daily activities."
Have you hugged an occupational therapist today??
I can get a little philosophical about my profession but I really do believe in it's foundation.
It's a cool job.
For all of you who are still a little fuzzy about what we do...
Taken from the AOTA website:
"Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational therapy assists people in developing the "skills for the job of living" necessary for independent and satisfying lives.
Every day, children and adults have or develop health conditions that significantly affect their ability to manage their daily lives. With the help of occupational therapy, many of these individuals can achieve or regain a higher level of independence. When skill and strength cannot be developed or improved, occupational therapy offers creative solutions and alternatives for carrying out daily activities."
Have you hugged an occupational therapist today??
Desire
Hello all.
It's been awhile. I've been busy.
I went home for Easter. It was a sweet time with the family. We watched some old videos just converted to DVD (so brilliant) of past holiday gatherings. It was good to see our family all together...the past couple years have been hard. Big changes, divorces, hard feelings, more time inbetween gatherings. It's hard to come together and feel complete with people missing. It's also hard to talk about these things because they are so personal, not really a topic for extended family gatherings. For me, watching those videos of happy times and sharing a laugh about so and so's hair or god awful style was very heart warming (it was the 80's). I wish I could heal the hurt and broken relationships so at least my grandparents could feel good about their family. It's very hard on my grandma. But there are some things one cannot touch. The best you can do is remember and share stories and know that the past is a part of now and change is the only constant. It's hard to let go of expectations about how you want your family to be. I struggle with that all the time.
I was listening to NPR yesterday and the topic was human desire. Pretty interesting stuff to me. Something I think about a lot is why we want the things we do and how to be satisfied and happy. This is simple and complex stuff. The author suggested that happy people desire the stuff they already have. In a way I guess this is the classic cliches of giving thanks, not taking for granted, counting your blessings...and so on. He also talked about the effect of natural disasters and death. How the bad stuff adjusts our life satisfaction and desires. How material items matter very little, and how thankful you can feel even if you have "lost everything."
A very sad event happened in my neighborhood this week. My good friend miscarried her 7 month old baby. The more I think about it, the harder it is to put any feeling into words. I know that we all feel the heartache of loss with them, a dream unrealized, a baby unborn. The depth of their sadness I may never touch.
But I do believe that the hard parts of life make the simple good things so much sweeter. I know that the pain of a heart ache is very real. But how amazing is it just to feel that much sadness all at once?
People are so resilliant. I see that everyday in the nursing home where I work. There are some completely heart breaking stories out there. How about the woman who's kids bought her a Caribean cruise for her 90th birthday and she falls stepping onto the boat in Florida, only to break her hip and have to be flown back to Wisconsin for surgery and a stay at the nursing home. She never did go on that cruise. Or what about the pilot in his 50's who was thrown off his motorcycle, only to end up with a spinal cord injury, paralyzed and totally dependent on people. He and his wife are going through quite a time. I think they will make it but it is a long hard road. He went from flying planes to needing someone to brush his teeth. How do people even keep on? His attitude is amazing to me though.
One thing I battle is this notion that we should find happiness in our own lives and be thankful for what we have after we see how miserable other people are. Like if you see someone suffering, you should be thankful that it's not you. True happiness comes must from within. I want to be grateful without having to compare my life to someone's misfortune. I do feel so blessed in many ways.
I haven't come up with any brilliant ways to ease suffering or help people with their pain. Mostly, as a therapist I just try to be there with people. Show them ways to move through the event, but also ways to just be where they are and have faith that it won't last forever. Change is the only constant.
It is the person who experiences a life with great width and depth, the sheer size of emotion that really feels alive. I would think that no number of trophies or diamonds or shoes would ever reveal life in a better way than through great sadness and joy. The author on the radio ended with an interesting question. What would you desire if you were the last person on earth?
It's been awhile. I've been busy.
I went home for Easter. It was a sweet time with the family. We watched some old videos just converted to DVD (so brilliant) of past holiday gatherings. It was good to see our family all together...the past couple years have been hard. Big changes, divorces, hard feelings, more time inbetween gatherings. It's hard to come together and feel complete with people missing. It's also hard to talk about these things because they are so personal, not really a topic for extended family gatherings. For me, watching those videos of happy times and sharing a laugh about so and so's hair or god awful style was very heart warming (it was the 80's). I wish I could heal the hurt and broken relationships so at least my grandparents could feel good about their family. It's very hard on my grandma. But there are some things one cannot touch. The best you can do is remember and share stories and know that the past is a part of now and change is the only constant. It's hard to let go of expectations about how you want your family to be. I struggle with that all the time.
I was listening to NPR yesterday and the topic was human desire. Pretty interesting stuff to me. Something I think about a lot is why we want the things we do and how to be satisfied and happy. This is simple and complex stuff. The author suggested that happy people desire the stuff they already have. In a way I guess this is the classic cliches of giving thanks, not taking for granted, counting your blessings...and so on. He also talked about the effect of natural disasters and death. How the bad stuff adjusts our life satisfaction and desires. How material items matter very little, and how thankful you can feel even if you have "lost everything."
A very sad event happened in my neighborhood this week. My good friend miscarried her 7 month old baby. The more I think about it, the harder it is to put any feeling into words. I know that we all feel the heartache of loss with them, a dream unrealized, a baby unborn. The depth of their sadness I may never touch.
But I do believe that the hard parts of life make the simple good things so much sweeter. I know that the pain of a heart ache is very real. But how amazing is it just to feel that much sadness all at once?
People are so resilliant. I see that everyday in the nursing home where I work. There are some completely heart breaking stories out there. How about the woman who's kids bought her a Caribean cruise for her 90th birthday and she falls stepping onto the boat in Florida, only to break her hip and have to be flown back to Wisconsin for surgery and a stay at the nursing home. She never did go on that cruise. Or what about the pilot in his 50's who was thrown off his motorcycle, only to end up with a spinal cord injury, paralyzed and totally dependent on people. He and his wife are going through quite a time. I think they will make it but it is a long hard road. He went from flying planes to needing someone to brush his teeth. How do people even keep on? His attitude is amazing to me though.
One thing I battle is this notion that we should find happiness in our own lives and be thankful for what we have after we see how miserable other people are. Like if you see someone suffering, you should be thankful that it's not you. True happiness comes must from within. I want to be grateful without having to compare my life to someone's misfortune. I do feel so blessed in many ways.
I haven't come up with any brilliant ways to ease suffering or help people with their pain. Mostly, as a therapist I just try to be there with people. Show them ways to move through the event, but also ways to just be where they are and have faith that it won't last forever. Change is the only constant.
It is the person who experiences a life with great width and depth, the sheer size of emotion that really feels alive. I would think that no number of trophies or diamonds or shoes would ever reveal life in a better way than through great sadness and joy. The author on the radio ended with an interesting question. What would you desire if you were the last person on earth?
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Pretty Art Bike
Pretty Art Bike, Pretty Art Bike...This is my second art project of the weekend...how creative am I?! This is a promo bike for the upcoming art bike parade. It attracts a lot of attention! You can't really tell, but there are sea shells glued to the fenders...
Chickens for Chickens
This is some of the art created by a neighborhood after school art club. The theme is "Chickens for Chickens" and the kids have chose to make a series of chicken art that will be sold at a gallery for the month of May. All proceeds of this will go to Hefers International, an organization that buys chickens for families in places like Africa. I think the art is so adorable and they work so hard on this. So heart warming!
Jack is very curious about Easter! I think he just wants to hunt the bunny...These are Ukrainian eggs I made at the neighbor's house this weekend. It's a very tedious, complicated procedure that is a little like surgery, but way more colorful. We all enjoyed ourselves. My friend Jana cracked her finished egg open on her lap. It was funny. For everyone else. I also cracked an egg, though it was blown. It's funny for a second, makes you realize how much time and energy we put into such fragile little things. I suppose any craft is like that.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Sundays
Today we went on a bike ride around the lake and stopped at a cafe.
I saw nothing unusual but did notice how many houses are for sale. Sunday is the day for open houses.
I decorated an art bike I will post a pic tomorrow.
My parents are here for the week. Very exciting!
I saw nothing unusual but did notice how many houses are for sale. Sunday is the day for open houses.
I decorated an art bike I will post a pic tomorrow.
My parents are here for the week. Very exciting!
Moab
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Vacation Past
Today I was remembering my trip to Moab, Utah a couple years ago. What a beautiful place that is. The slickrock is a dream to bike on...
The red rock there is majestic.
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The red rock there is majestic.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Timing
On Wednesday (of this week), at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00am, the time and date will be:
01:02:03 04/05/06.
That won't happen again for 1000 years.
01:02:03 04/05/06.
That won't happen again for 1000 years.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Daylight Strikes
What a gray weekend. This morning we had a cereal party. Everyone got together for cartoons and their favorite cereal. I brought Grapenuts as a joke and then another person (we won't mention names) also brought a box of the same. It was funny because it turned out to be the only repeat cereal that showed up twice. Who eats a full bowl of Grapenuts?! Seriously, it's more of a prescription than a breakfast. I like it sprinkled in yogurt but otherwise....yuk. I ate a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and rasberries. It was quite excellent. We all layed around on the couch and futon watching cartoons. I enjoyed The Simpson's the most.
Happy Day Light Savings everyone!
There's one good thing about it...
Now the cat is starting to wake me up at 6:00 AM instead of 5:oo like yesterday. I need to do something about him. This is our morning ritual. He jumps up on the dresser and knocks things off one by one, making the most noise he can and annoying me to the max. I sit up in bed and then he immediately jumps down and onto the bed. He crawls under the covers where he proceeds to attack my hands for awhile, then he calms down for 10 minutes and I fall back asleep. Next, he's back on the dresser. I jump out of bed and scamper through the cold kitchen to put some food in his dish, even though it is half full. He has a small snack, I fall back asleep. Fifteen minutes later, you know the drill, he's back up on the dresser about to push the alarm clock onto the floor. I jump out of bed ready for revenge. In the kitchen drawer I find the dreaded hairball treatment goop and plant a glob on the corner of his mouth. I figure he'll be licking his way to a nap. I head back to bed satisfied, because it had worked the day before. But no. Not today. So, I hear him use the litter box in our bathroom and then hop back on the dresser. At this point, I was swearing outloud. I push him out the door and close it behind him. You are all wondering why I didn't do this sooner...it's because I dread the thought of him needing the litter box and being locked out of the room where it is. Anyway, he made a racket trying to push the door open by throwing his body against it and didn't succeed. I finally got to finish my beauty rest. I just wish I could figure out what the heck I can do for him at that time of day! He is a persistant little #$*&@. Despite all of this, we still love him and it will happen again tomorrow, if we could just teach him the concept of weekends. Better on a Monday for sure.
Happy Day Light Savings everyone!
There's one good thing about it...
Now the cat is starting to wake me up at 6:00 AM instead of 5:oo like yesterday. I need to do something about him. This is our morning ritual. He jumps up on the dresser and knocks things off one by one, making the most noise he can and annoying me to the max. I sit up in bed and then he immediately jumps down and onto the bed. He crawls under the covers where he proceeds to attack my hands for awhile, then he calms down for 10 minutes and I fall back asleep. Next, he's back on the dresser. I jump out of bed and scamper through the cold kitchen to put some food in his dish, even though it is half full. He has a small snack, I fall back asleep. Fifteen minutes later, you know the drill, he's back up on the dresser about to push the alarm clock onto the floor. I jump out of bed ready for revenge. In the kitchen drawer I find the dreaded hairball treatment goop and plant a glob on the corner of his mouth. I figure he'll be licking his way to a nap. I head back to bed satisfied, because it had worked the day before. But no. Not today. So, I hear him use the litter box in our bathroom and then hop back on the dresser. At this point, I was swearing outloud. I push him out the door and close it behind him. You are all wondering why I didn't do this sooner...it's because I dread the thought of him needing the litter box and being locked out of the room where it is. Anyway, he made a racket trying to push the door open by throwing his body against it and didn't succeed. I finally got to finish my beauty rest. I just wish I could figure out what the heck I can do for him at that time of day! He is a persistant little #$*&@. Despite all of this, we still love him and it will happen again tomorrow, if we could just teach him the concept of weekends. Better on a Monday for sure.
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