Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Starting a new decade one should set some goals. Seems I do it every year and for the most part I have reached them, so just a few this time:

#1. Pay less attention to the weather forecasts. We have trimmed back our activities for this week because a whole bunch of storms were surging toward us. The one yesterday gave us a little rain which we needed to clean up the air, and today we had a little light snow which was chased away by brilliant sunshine that lasted most of the day. Right now Southern California is supposed to be getting blown apart by the heavy rain. I think we will still stay in town and see if it comes here.

#2. Volunteer more at the MOA on campus. Friday I am going to help guide a whole bunch of teachers through the MIRROR MIRROR exhibit and suggest some ways they can help their students be more self-aware. It is a huge area with some very interesting ways all sorts of media have been used to tellabout people. My favorite is a large low ceilinged room with only one display which takes up the whole room. It is actually a very old avocado tree. The trunk and largest branches are covered with black velvet secured with zippers, but I think the small branches and twigs were sprayed, all very tight. It can be dismantled. It is symbolic of the artist's mother who is old, happy and well rooted in a good life. The tree roots are embedded in rock salt. A flock of migrating birds rest on the branches, clear plastic life size little birds filled with Windex, blue birds of happiness-a woman who loved housework?

A tiny screen up in one corner of another room flashes photos of Paris Hilton so fast it takes a minute for you to tell who it is. In the dozens of outfits and poses the most consistent thing you see is that in each pose she holds her head the same way showing her looong neck.

There is a contest going on at the museum seeking unique ways of telling about yourself. If you can think of something clever, send it in. A picture of your shoes, Paige?

#3. Lose ten pounds before we go on our family cruise in March. This one is a repeat of part of last year's goal. I have been good about the exercise and have lost a pant size, but the pounds are not deminished. Tedder looks so good. In two days of that Mediterranean sun he will be tanned, and he has given his daughters and granddaughters notice that he is ready to go dancing. I am thinking the hip replacement is a complete success, a miracle, no less, because in 56 years he has never been ready to go dancing! He has been so good about his exercises. It is too cold to walk outside, but we go to the malls and walk until he is tired. We find him a bench and I go shopping.

#4. Don't lie in bed after 5:00 trying to go back to sleep. BLOG!!!