Lets get this party started! 2 days!

I am not feeling very wordy this morning- as I am really overwhelmed with the things I need to do today.  Fortunately the list really isn't super long, as my new method of doing all things on said list as soon as possible after adding them to the list has worked wonders.  Don't ANY of you (yeah I am talking to you!) think that this is a permanent change or anything- that sort of thing probably won't stick with me.  Because disorganized chaos is part of my charm.  hehehe

Disorganized,  charming chaos- I am a dish of flowers!

Anyway, (forgive my Captain Obvious moments here) I can not believe I am down to the number 2 on my countdown app and amazingly enough that will change to a 1 here in about 4 hours!  The range of emotions I have felt- just in the last 10 minutes even- has been astounding.  So when I find myself way, way out there, I bring myself back to the present and attempt to let sanity rule.  Having a lot of battles between the logical and emotional side right now.

It is time for me to finish up my packing- at least as far as I can here- and straighten up the house a little.  That will serve to make sure I have not forgotten anything. I am having moments of "do I have enough money" which is always something my brain goes to right away.  I am hoping for enough appropriate clothing, that I will be able to find the right pair of walking sandals today, that I will not hit bad weather (I don't think I will), that I will sleep at least a few moments on that plane....

And this is the time that I am going to let it all go and just go with it.  I will make sure I have all my belongings with me and beyond the packing and all, I just need to relax into it.  What happens, happens.  If I sleep I do and if I don't, I have a book to read.  I will enjoy my trip.

So many people have offered so much advice and I really do appreciate it!  You are all so awesome.  I will be using my camera every day, but don't you all worry- it will not be up to my face every moment.  I will be absorbing all the things that will be happening and that I will be seeing, because that is how I roll.  I am such an in the moment person, for better or for worse.  If I am in charge of a situation I will always be thinking of the next thing, but in this case- I am not in charge.

I am looking forward to being in a country that does not have English as it's primary language.  To seeing things that are so much older than anything we have here- things that I learned about in Art History class that seemed so far away and unreachable.  I am looking forward to having such new experiences and ready to embrace the change that will come to my way of viewing things.  Every time I have an adventure that gives me such anticipation, I find that I look  at things in a different way.  That way isn't easy to describe or pinpoint, but it is a new way to experience life and finding some joy in it.  This trip for me is to continue living a larger life.  I began this quest for "more" with my Boundary Waters trip a few years ago, I dabbled in it  a bit when I went on my children's band and choir trips with them.... I definitely immersed myself during my Denver trip last year.  I am stretching my boundaries and seeing where the outskirts lie.  Living a bigger life has given me such joy, and it was beginning when I started this blog even.  Pushing at my boundaries, taking on a personal stance of bravery and doing things  that make me afraid- even if it is clinging to a tree in unusual places, in a location that is way too close to the edge of something.  I don't want to fall over, but inside me,  I want to get as close as I can.  And I am creeping ever closer- my comfort zone has ventured out a bit. I am READY!

So as I spend the morning in a whirlwind of activity, packing up my car, fussing over little things that I really should just leave alone, I will be trying to not imagine what will happen Friday.   I want to be surprised.  Lol.  I am actually so excited about seeing a different airport!  DON'T JUDGE ME!!!  HAHAHA  Actually- go ahead.  I really am not worried.  I am anxious to see what one of those big airplanes look like- want to see the clouds from the airplane again.  Try to sleep in an upright position! Land in a new place unlike one I have been in.  My wish is that every time I do these new things, my excitement and anticipation for them does not fade.  The waiting has been exquisite torture, and I love it!

I will most likely post another tomorrow from Minneapolis, but not sure about Friday!!  We shall see what happens.  Maybe I will do a selfie from the car on the way to the airport at 6 am.  Lol  You just never know.

Until tomorrow, have a super joyful and maybe just a little bit of an adventurous day.

What to do first and other wanderings..

TODAY is finally Saturday, the best day of the whole week for most of us.  I have so much to accomplish today, as I am going to be gone for a few days starting tomorrow.  I am going to the TIES convention in Minneapolis (can we have a hallelujah and a few major fist pumps in the air, baby!!) which is a tech conference for teachers.  My life is good.  I am going with some of my absolute FAVORITE people in the world- The Mad-English teacher friend, the Mad-chemistry teacher friend, the wanting to always be anonymous next door neighbor and partner in crime, fellow vegetarian girl, plus finally- my mentee, the Mad-Math Teacher friend.  We are leaving early tomorrow so we can get to the cities and walk to the museum in the afternoon before it closes. Before the vikings game lets out..... YES!!!  Anywho, I have a few things I want to accomplish before I leave.

Most of them involve errands, but I also want to get to the gym, go for a walk, wrap Christmas presents, put up one more string of really cool lights..... OH, I want to send out my calendars this week, but idk if I will get that done before tomorrow.  Yeah, I should be doing that right now so I can take them to the post office, and yet here I am writing a blog post.  Priorities, right??

Hey can I make an observation that is slightly annoying to me this morning.  I just looked up at the TV, as I have the Today show on, with the sound pretty low, and the headline is: 21 States expecting snow or rain today.........  Um yeah- this is WINTER people.  IT IS DECEMBER!!!  WHAT do we expect???  I also find it more than mildly annoying how the Weather Channel names their winter storms.  I seriously want to smack them upside the head.  We who endure these winter storms do not need them named.  We call them- "daily life" or  "oh I better wear my boots today" weather and "I suppose I better remote start my car" sort of a day.  We SCOFF at you weather channel.  Life is dramatic enough,  just tell us how many inches to expect and we will decide if it is "get some bread and milk" time.  I am done now.  :)

Yeah, so I need to prioritize my wants and needs for the day or I will be so worked up by the time night comes I won't sleep.  And since I am the apparent "expert" in Twin cities driving (silly silly people) I have to be on my A game tomorrow, as I am chief navigator!  (I have Siri and I know how to use her)

Just a week from now my house will be full of people and dogs and a baby and it will be good!  All the kids will be here the weekend before Christmas, as their places of work are rude enough to make some of them go to their jobs next week.  I mean just because Christmas is on a Wednesday, effectively cutting the week in two and just kind of messing things up, doesn't mean they should goof up my Christmas celebrations, right? Oh well, Christmas is when everyone is here, so what evs.  I am trying to get all these little loose ends tied up, as I think at least part of the posse will be here on Thursday, so after I get home, there isn't much time.  So lights and wrapping is top priority, as well as a little last minute shopping and deciding on a grocery list.  Oh man, I'm going to be up late.  Lol.

So, maybe I should package up a couple calendars right now to get to my far-est flung friends on the coasts, and then make a fast stop at the PO after while.  That would make me feel better.  I have a gift to send off too, so that might be a good idea, too.  Yep, a list has already started.

Until next time, have a joyful day- enjoy your Saturday.  It goes waaaay too fast.

Ho Ho Ho!!

Oh the places I've seen!

I did go to some pretty pretty places this past month!  Pretty diverse, and in three separate states!!  I have a photo spread of three gorgeous locations- Olbrich gardens in Madison, Minnehaha Falls in Minnesota and the U of I in Champaign, IL.  I have sort of told you when I went to these places here, here and here.

The common thread here is the art.  There is art in the modern sculptures seen here at Olbrich.  There is art at Minnehaha falls in the splendor of nature and the homage to Chief Little Crow himself.  There is traditional statuary and architecture at the U of I.  There is amazing art to be found in the splendors of nature, and I am hoping you find a little art and expression in my photography.

Olbrich:

Minnehaha Falls:

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana

It was a joyful June for pictures!!

I'm so behind on my Sunday photos!!

Here is the first round of my Sunday photos- 2 week late!!  Ach.  I hate that, and its Monday.  Here is some beauty, as I see it from Northern WI and also from central MN!!

Have you noticed how I dig clouds??

The lovely Minneapolis

On our peony escapades

Gorgeous sculpture from the Mpls Arboretum.

The sky was crying...

Look for updates - I have a lot of neglected housework to do!  :)
Until next time, be a joy giver, even if it is a little late.