Got a phone that actually works after several tries. What a joy. Just my opinion but Circuit City's Verge isn't worth the bargain basement price. I (am not technically challenged by any means) couldn't figure out how to hang up after completing a call. The sound quality was painful to listen to and no one recognized my voice.
Got a Panasonic. Love it.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Grace and gratitude.
It's been a month today.
A surreal, odd month. From homeless - only for a few hours while Man, woman, boy, dog and two cats were all piled into the station wagon with a bag of groceries and a cell phone - to here, the home place of one of our neighbors three blocks from Elwood.
The journey has been a test of (and testament to) my last four years of coach training. Knowing that how I think about this, the words I use, the actions I choose are important, have kept me focused and grateful.
I know what grace is, first hand. It humbles me.
A surreal, odd month. From homeless - only for a few hours while Man, woman, boy, dog and two cats were all piled into the station wagon with a bag of groceries and a cell phone - to here, the home place of one of our neighbors three blocks from Elwood.
The journey has been a test of (and testament to) my last four years of coach training. Knowing that how I think about this, the words I use, the actions I choose are important, have kept me focused and grateful.
I know what grace is, first hand. It humbles me.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Phase II...Gypsy no more.
We're moving into our home for the next few months this morning. No more commuting. Can you hear that sound? It's RAM space being freed!
Sunday, January 30, 2005
My great neighbors.
As I leaned against my car watching the house burn, people started to gather.
The morning of the fire it was cold in the house. School was out because of the weather. I had dressed in layers and put a big terry robe over everything. I had on socks, but no shoes.
Virginia took in my son, keeping him warm and safe. Someone, I still don't know who, brought me a pair of shoes. Eva brought me a coat, a box of tissues and some chapstick.
A TV reporter offered her cell phone and to call the Red Cross. Susan took me directly to the insurance office and then to the bank.
I felt blessed, and grateful.
The morning of the fire it was cold in the house. School was out because of the weather. I had dressed in layers and put a big terry robe over everything. I had on socks, but no shoes.
Virginia took in my son, keeping him warm and safe. Someone, I still don't know who, brought me a pair of shoes. Eva brought me a coat, a box of tissues and some chapstick.
A TV reporter offered her cell phone and to call the Red Cross. Susan took me directly to the insurance office and then to the bank.
I felt blessed, and grateful.
Purge by Fire
About noon, January 20, I had come downstairs to check my email and wake up my sleeping son. I heard a noise upstairs. Something crashing. My first thought was, bad dog. But there he was looking toward the noise too. Intruder?
As I started through the utility room, I saw blue smoke curling around the fluorescent lights. Damn it. What's broken now?
Halfway up the steps I saw black. Black like I've never seen. It had an energy, it seemed alive and threatening. I started up and felt the heat ... Heard the roar and bam ... Adrenaline is a wonderful thing.
I grabbed the portable phone and called 911, waked Ben, grabbed the fire extinguisher. By then (about 60 seconds later) the black cloud was moving down the steps. I shot the fire extinguisher once and realize this was futile.
Grab the costumes, find my keys, get the dog. Call Babe the cat ... Babe. I couldn't find Babe.
The firemen arrived. Get out of there...Put the dog on a lead, move the car....
The windows blew out. Find the cat...He's blind... I left. Put the dog in the car....Moved the car...Moved the car again....Find Ben.
Ben. OK. Lovely in purple surfer shorts with silver lightening bolts, a tee shirt and his sleeping bag. But safe.
Watch life as I knew it go up in smoke. Watch my list of someday projects come tumbling onto the lawn in a sooty smoking heap. Stay present. Stay in the moment. Know that this too is perfect.
As I started through the utility room, I saw blue smoke curling around the fluorescent lights. Damn it. What's broken now?
Halfway up the steps I saw black. Black like I've never seen. It had an energy, it seemed alive and threatening. I started up and felt the heat ... Heard the roar and bam ... Adrenaline is a wonderful thing.
I grabbed the portable phone and called 911, waked Ben, grabbed the fire extinguisher. By then (about 60 seconds later) the black cloud was moving down the steps. I shot the fire extinguisher once and realize this was futile.
Grab the costumes, find my keys, get the dog. Call Babe the cat ... Babe. I couldn't find Babe.
The firemen arrived. Get out of there...Put the dog on a lead, move the car....
The windows blew out. Find the cat...He's blind... I left. Put the dog in the car....Moved the car...Moved the car again....Find Ben.
Ben. OK. Lovely in purple surfer shorts with silver lightening bolts, a tee shirt and his sleeping bag. But safe.
Watch life as I knew it go up in smoke. Watch my list of someday projects come tumbling onto the lawn in a sooty smoking heap. Stay present. Stay in the moment. Know that this too is perfect.
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