What Is

As it sometimes happens, today didn't go the way I wanted - or planned.

Now, I sit in the corner of our couch at 2522, waiting for Chad to get home from a show - not having too much to say, but finding this as good a time as any for an entry.

I was supposed to have a short shift at work, which would leave enough of the night to drive out to Shawnee and settle in. (Yes, I've driven out even later than it is now, before - but I had energy, then. This afternoon was so active and the night was so stressful at work, that I feel more wiped out than I would have anticipated possible.)

And yet... Nieran's nose is tucked to my left, my feet are warmed by the space heater and the rumble of Maize's snoring frequents my right.

At ease, soldier.

As I was re-reading the below, gearing up for another entry, I realized I wrote "five" instead of "four" - as in "I'll ask myself for only FIVE photos or entries a week".

Of course I realize this is going to sound like a cop-out (cynicism, be gone!), but I really DID mean to write "four"!

So does that mean I'm supposed to make five entries? If so, I feel like I'm already behind. But if I opt for four, I will almost feel like I've cheated.

I can get way too head-y about things...

No, thanks.

Another resolution I made of late (at Christmas, in fact) was to unsubscribe to all of the superfluous email newsletters, updates and advertisements I receive on an annoyingly frequent basis.

Some of these are communiques I subscribed to when the material was of high interest (or I was getting something for the submission of information). Some of it, however, found its way to my Inbox via spamming, hacking and who knows what other nefarious means. In either case, the load had gotten so heavy that I probably spent the same amount of time pressing "Delete" as I did reading valid messages. And somehow, this process had become so integrated in my day-to-day that I thought very little of it - until I did.

Suddenly, the reality of seconds adding up to minutes (and very likely significant portions of an hour) struck.

Well, no more! I have begun to reclaim my virtual sanity - and my phone and I are able to spend more quality time... apart.

And So It Begins

... a resolution to revisit the part of myself which writes, captures moments in a frame, expresses with color on a page.

I've never before been compelled by the concept of New Year's Resolutions - but 2011 has been filled with so much goodness, it seems a shame that it wasn't documented in some form.

Granted, it follows fast on the heels of a year that was... well, let's just say that in the typing of "heels" my subconscious yielded "hells" - but there's truth in even that which I know would serve me equally as well, would I allow its unveiling.

I'll be kind to myself - instead of expecting "365 Days" (a concept in which the participant posts a photo every day, for a year), I'll ask myself for only five photos or entries a week and allow the entries to occur at a minimum of once a week. There's something to be said for discipline, so this is line I've drawn in my virtual sand.

I hope someone will enjoy these words, lean more about me - and maybe themselves. It sounds trite, I know - but cynicism has no place in my 2012 :)

Numbers Don't Lie

From November 25, 2008 to December 30 of the same year: 10 Blog entries.

In the entire year of 2009: 15 Blog entries.

One month into 2010: This is the first entry.

I'm blaming FaceBook.

Good thing noone was watching

... or holding their breath! It's been an additional month since I "plan(ned) on penning something this weekend" - but such are the ways of one in flux. This one in flux, anyway.

I actually had to re-read my entries to establish a timeline for everything that has transpired. It was such a whirlwind - Chad and I both commuting from Shawnee to Edmond and OKC for work, spending evenings and weekends at the duplex so that we could finish renovations on the renter's side, finally making the move ourselves, then adjusting to the new space - ESPECIALLY the fact that we didn't have a fence for the dogs.

At first, it was fun - exploring and familiarizing ourselves with the neighborhood, getting out and active, giving each of them their own time instead of just mass-canine attention. We happened into the most walk-friendly neighborhood I've seen in all of OKC - Historic Miller Boulevard - but then... the heat hit.

I'll blame them, first - 'cause, really, I was dedicated - but we wouldn't get two blocks before tongues were dragging and the rate at which we moved was less than a snail's pace. By the middle of June, we had resorted to quick trips to the back yard - but this would never suffice. We all got restless. The outdoors, which was at once so integral to our days became bastardized as function. There was no joy in going there - and this only heightened the transient feel (everything's still in disrepair but the floors) of our side of the duplex.

This past week, we installed a fence. Mind you, only the most dilapidated of panels got replaced - but the new gates function perfectly, and the project has given us a surprising sense of possibility.

I hope to post pictures soon. We're working with a different computer now, and I have yet to find out if/how our camera connects and transfers.

Perhaps this blog will be the very thing that resurrects that part of me which used her point-and-shoot so frequently, turning "everydays" into art. I miss her.

Of course, I missed writing too, until I made myself sit down with the computer - so maybe there's hope :)

Four months = One quarter of a YEAR

Has it really been that long?!

I don't even have a considerable entry to offer. Just a teaser, as I plan on penning something this weekend...

"An update?" you ask...

Impossible! And I refuse to be that plotted about it...

I AM still Jenny :)