Present & Accounted For

Firecracker + Paint = Awesome!

2010-01-03T16:56:30Z

I got my firecrackers. Yesterday, stopped into the shop in Micanopy and bought a 100 count box of Great Grizzly Titanium Flashcrackers. I couldn't wait to try it out today. Awesome wreck. Here's the journal gallery update.

Such a great day

2010-01-03T02:48:32Z

It was an absolutely gorgeous day. We went to the Citra and Anthony area to geocache and it was a perfect day. We discovered the Orange Creek Restoration Area and hiked out to a cache and it was such a beautiful walk. I took some pics. I hope the link works. I don't use it often so I'm still trying to figure out Facebook.

I got my firecrackers too. *evil laughter* I hope to do some serious wrecking tomorrow. I've been so busy having fun since Thursday evening that I haven't even had time to create anything.

We are off to a fantastic start on our commitment to improve our health. We ate healthy and were very active caching and hiking today. I have kept my sober and smoke free commitment to myself so I know that I will reach my goal to shape up too. No doubt in my mind. I feel really good about it.

2010

2010-01-02T03:22:35Z

Happy New Year! 2010 is off to a wonderful start. =)

Todd & Linda's Annual New Year's Eve Party is always a highlight of our holiday season and last night was no exception. I can't think of a better way to greet the new year than basking in the light of a burning wickerman, surrounded by friends and watching fireworks explode overhead. The food of course was plentiful and fantastic. The rain held off and the full moon peaked out from behind the clouds from time to time. It was pleasant to sit outside talking with friends all evening. It was a wonderful way to say goodbye to '09 and welcome a new year. I'm proud that there are two habits that no longer claim the top of my resolutions list anymore and I can turn my attention to other goals. This year I had new wishes for myself and my family on the wickerman and I think that they are definitely within reach.

I uploaded the video I took here... http://www.youtube.com/user/jasminedragon08

Today we geocached in between errands. I bought some new pens for my journal wrecking. I never thought I'd have a pen preference but the Uniball 207 Med. 0.7MM pen is perfect for my projects so I picked up the 8 pack in various colors. Now all I need is a firecracker. I have a great idea for a wreck in my journal if only I could find a firecracker. I may have to make a trip to Micanopy to the fireworks store.

Hee hee.

2009-12-29T22:39:02Z

I took some pics and started an album of the journal that I'm wrecking. I'm finding the whole thing to be very therapeutic. It's nice to have something creative to do during the week to take the place of geocaching which I can only do on weekends which is taking the place of archery while we are in the off season.

It isn't truly creative until something is on fire.

2009-12-29T03:29:16Z

A while back songdancer suggested that I express some of my recent emotions and stress in my art. I liked the idea but could not find the creative permission within me to really lay it all out there, warts and all. The other day though, I read where librarista gifted someone with a "Wreck This Journal". That piqued my curiosity so I hit amazon to check into it. This is exactly the inspiration that I've been needing. I grabbed a pristine blank book I have had for years, too afraid to touch and some soysauce and a lighter and started wrecking and I LOVE it. It is destructive and creative and ugly and beautiful. Thanks songdancer and librarista for the idea.

Holiday

2009-12-27T01:02:57Z

For the most part, Christmas Eve and Day went well.

Christmas Eve started out rough. Mom was upset with Ken and stressed out. We waited it out and Joe and Hannah sat out in the back of the truck and started an informal geek trivia challenge. I think everyone but Mom and Ken eventually ended up out there for a little while. Things improved though as the evening went on. Once we got home that evening I had a surprise for Joe. The day before, I wove a parachord survival strap bracelet for him and I hid it in a cash container on the tree. Then I hid a small clue outside in the jasmine vines in a micro container attached to a small rooster statue. I marked it in the GPS as Christmas Clue and for the note I typed Merry Christmas Joe. I gave Joe the GPS and he had to find the first clue. Inside there was a piece of the tree which led him back inside and he searched the tree and found the cache and the gift. He really loved the survival strap and was surprised that I had made it.

Christmas day was nice. Kerie came over for Christmas morning and spent half the day with us. It was nice to be together. We played the Twighlight Scene it that we gave Kerie. Later that day, we played In A Pickle which was a blast. Joe and I had some gift issues AGAIN. We always end up buying each other the same gifts. We did it again this year with two gifts and will exchange them. Joe and I have been together so long that I swear we read each other's minds.

I can't wait for the New year's Eve party at Todd and Linda's.

Bobcat!

2009-12-27T00:49:08Z

We saw a Bobcat today. We were out geocaching and there is a wooded creek that runs between two neighborhoods near Millhopper. Hannah and I were in the truck while Joe walked down into the ravine. I looked up and saw the bobcat casually walking across the road. I pointed it out to Hannah and we watched as it went down into the ravine. Hannah said it's going down there with Dad and I said I know, let's go so we hurried down into the ravine and told Joe but we couldn't see where it went. It was amazing to see. It was only about 20 yards from us. I've never seen one in the wild before.

Not a cache

2009-12-22T17:57:44Z

The funniest thing happened last weekend. We were out geocaching. We were in a small town at the Veteran's Memorial outside the Masons looking for a micro cache. Those are small caches typically hidden in 35mm containers, bison tubes or magnetic hide-a-key containers. So we are looking around the area which is in the center of town on the main street and Hannah looks up under the large corner mail box and says I found it. So I'm thinking it odd that it would be hidden on a mail box but we walk over to the truck. Hannah hands us a magnetic hide-a-key container. Joe opens it and we see a key. *blink blink* So we are all standing there staring at this key wondering where the log is when the realization suddenly spreads across our faces and we go from confused to horrified. It is actually a hide-a-key. Not a cache and it is the key to the corner mailbox. Joe quickly closes the container and Hannah grabs it and runs and puts it back meanwhile I am trying not to fall over in my fit of panic and hysterical laughter. We get the key returned and we all look at each other and Joe says, "Well, that's never happened before." and then we all nearly fall over laughing. We did actually find the cache in a camoed pill bottle but I will never forget our faces when we opened that hide-a-key and saw... a key. Mom is convinced we will be arrested while geocaching one of these days.

Evening

2009-12-22T17:55:21Z

We had a very pleasant Yule evening. When Joe got home, dinner was ready and he was really surprised by all the little extras we did that he didn't know about like the mulled cider and the fresh baked bread and honey butter. Except for missing some loved ones around our fire, it was a perfect evening and it meant so much to us. It is a blessing to have that little moment of festive calm and closeness tucked away in the heart and mind as things pick up speed toward Christmas. You never know how gatherings are going to go when you have so many different family members in different places in their lives coming together under one roof for Christmas Eve.

Yule Update

2009-12-21T22:05:23Z

The sun wheel/cross bread turned out really well. Hannah and I had a lot of fun making the bread. The meat has been smoking for several hours and I just put the harvest veggie medley of potatoes, onions, carrots, mushrooms and zucchini into the oven to roast. I have the mulled cider mulling in the slow cooker and the yule log is finished. All I have left to do is steam the asparagus. When Joe gets home everything should be ready to go. Here's a pic of the bread and yule log if you'd like to see. =)

Happy Yule!

2009-12-21T16:09:51Z

Happy Yule! We're celebrating the shortest day of the year and the return of the sun. We are having dinner outside tonight next to a fire and burning the Yule log. I'm smoking a pork roast on the grill and baking a bread shaped like a sun cross. There's mulled cider and apple fritters for desert. I love Yule. I observe Christmas in honor of my family and family traditions but find it too commercialized and complicated. Yule is my heart and my celebration.

Envenomated

2009-12-18T16:09:28Z

I got my new bow!!! I took my 40# left-handed Martin Venom out of the box at archery yesterday and got to fire it. It is amazing you guys. I was a little nervous, that after not shooting in so long, going to 40 pounds would be uncomfortable but this bow is so well engineered that it wasn't a problem at all. The brace height currently changes range from the high end to low end while the brand new string is still stretching but in spite of that I didn't feel ANY hand shock. The riser grip is very comfortable too. Considering I'm going from a 66" recurve to a 66" hybrid reflex deflex longbow, I expected to have to get used to the grip but it feels so similar to my recurve that I don't notice any difference in my bow hand while shooting. The cast is excellent, smooth and quiet. My current full length arrows perform well though I think I will shorten the next set so they are a bit lighter. I want to make sure I can gap aim on the boss and preferable on the target face at the 40 yard range. The bow is beautiful too. It has taken me five years to find a bow to replace my Bear Patriot. I've had my used 1973 Bear Patriot Recurve for nearly 16 years and I love it but I've retired it to a place of honor on the bowrack. My new Martin Venom is definitely worth the switch and readjustment. I couldn't be happier. =)

No more ads!

2009-12-17T19:06:26Z

Thank you for the holiday coupon alryssa. I appreciate you thinking of me. =) Look! I got my Nightwing icon back.

Falalalala la la la la

2009-12-16T17:55:42Z

Linda called and my bow is here. I get to try it out tomorrow. I'll be trying different arrows to find the right spine and weight before I make new arrows for this bow.

I found great gift wrap this year. I have Star Wars Clone Wars, Batman and this really cool blue and white snowflake motif. Too bad I couldn't find Star Trek gift wrap. I would have bought that in a heartbeat. I'm unapologetically geeky.

Still figuring out what I want to do for the Solstice. I'm thinking maybe a fire outback and dinner under the stars.

We have Christmas Eve at Mom's and I really need to figure out what I'm bringing and my grocery list.

Party, holiday and life stuff

2009-12-07T17:24:01Z

We went to a dear friend's birthday party on Saturday night and it was so much fun. It was like a warm-up to the New Year's Wickerman Party that they throw every year. Most all of our archery crowd was there, as well as other friends so the place was packed. It was weird to realize that we knew most of the people there. That's a sharp contrast to a few years ago. Todd throws a great party. We all love Linda so it was awesome to celebrate her birthday with her. I had a couple of heart-to-heart chats about life stuff with Chabi, Kim, and Mar and it felt so good to connect on that level. It was kind of a recovery milestone for me too. This was the first time EVER I felt really comfortable in this type of social setting. I knew there would be alcohol around so I brought my O'Doul's Amber to have something in my hand in case my social anxiety flared up and it felt weird for the first minute but then I started chatting and sipping my NA beer and I forgot all about alcohol and social anxiety and I had a great time being a part of it all. Huge milestone especially in light of how stressful the last couple of months have been with Kerie.

I've nearly finished all of my shopping. I did most online this year. Kerie came and spent the day with us yesterday and we cached a bit, went out for lunch and then decorated the tree. We continue to encourage but we are doing well stepping back and letting go. If things start to feel overwhelming, I go back to philosophy.

Everything that happens happens as it should, and if you observe carefully, you will find this to be so. -Marcus Aurelius

In no particular order

2009-12-01T20:37:57Z

-SCA event was a lot of fun. Joe is the archery marshal for the event in February.

-Visited the cemetery in Lake City two weeks ago and saw the resting place of my grandfather's parents and family. I had never been and I was glad to be able to pay my respects.

-Thanksgiving was enjoyable. We actually managed to get in a two mile hike before dinner and found four geocaches.

-We passed our 200th find this past weekend and have hidden seven of our own now.

-With all the extra activity, I'm losing weight again. I'm down 5 lbs this morning.

-Kerie called. Her due date is July 4th.

-Went out to the cemetery this morning to put out the holiday memorial items and ran into a family member that I haven't seen in years. She is also a family historian so we talked quite a bit and I'm mailing her the family history and photo disc that I made last year.

-Found a cache beside the river next to the cemetery. Did a maintenance check on our cache in LaCrosse.

-Finished the holiday shopping for my extended family. On time and on budget for the rest of the shopping.

-Good Eats: Twas the Night Before Good Eats was awesome! I know what I'm cooking for the holiday.

Oh yeah and the stoic thought on which I've been meditating is...

"The depth of darkness to which you can descend and still live is an exact measure of the height to which you can aspire to reach." -Pliny the Elder

Nice to be firmly on the upswing. I see good things ahead.

Bullets and philosophical thoughts

2009-11-13T18:10:04Z

*Halloween was enjoyable. Finally met Jen and Kyle. had an all out silly string war inside and outside of the truck while trick-or-treating.
*Linda gave me credit for my old bows so I was able to order a new left-hand 40# Martin Venom Longbow.
*We love our Garmin eTrex Venture HC Handheld GPS unit. It has already saved us getting lost in Osceola National Forest.
*We get up early in the morning before Joe has to leave for work so we can geocache. Our coolest search so far was the old caboose behind City Hall in High Springs. We've visited so many cool places while caching. Ocean Pond was gorgeous.
*Only one more week shooting archery and then we start working on arrows.
*I'm glad that goecaching will fill the winter months since the archery season is coming to an end.
*We've published two caches and submitted two more this morning.
*We have an SCA event tomorrow
*Kerie moved back home yesterday. She doesn't want to be in that relationship anymore which is more than likely for the best. Joe and I are supportive but also stepping back, finding that healthy balance for all of us.
* I have some significant recovery milestones coming up too. I'm proud of myself for dealing with all of these life changes and finding balance without falling back on past unhealthy ways of coping.
*I'm also very fortunate. This recent event reminded me that we am surrounded by supportive and loving friends and family.

I continue to find balance and comfort in stoic philosophy. I've been reading "Stoic Letters - Book One" by Seneca. I particularly like Epistle VIII - On Groundless Fears...

"There are more things, Lucilius, likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality. I am not speaking with you in the Stoic strain but in my milder style. For it is our Stoic fashion to speak of all those things, which provoke cries and groans, as unimportant and beneath notice; but you and I must drop such great sounding words, although, heaven knows, they are true enough. What I advise you to do is, not to be unhappy before the crisis comes; since it may be that the dangers before which you paled as if they were threatening you, will never come upon you; they certainly have not yet come. Accordingly, some things torment us more than they ought; some torment us before they ought; and some torment us when they ought not to torment us at all. We are in the habit of exaggerating, or imagining, or anticipating, sorrow. "

"Let us, then, look carefully into the matter. It is likely that some troubles will befall us; but it is not a present fact. How often has the unexpected happened! How often has the expected never come to pass! And even though it is ordained to be, what does it avail to run out to meet your suffering? You will suffer soon enough, when it arrives; so look forward meanwhile to better things. What shall you gain by doing this? Time. There will be many happenings meanwhile which will serve to postpone, or end, or pass on to another person, the trials which are near or even in your very presence. A fire has opened the way to flight. Men have been let down softly by a catastrophe. Sometimes the sword has been checked even at the victim's throat. Men have survived their own executioners. Even bad fortune is fickle. Perhaps it will come, perhaps not; in the meantime it is not. So look forward to better things. "

Belief

2009-10-28T19:16:10Z

I don't think that anything tests the fit of a person's system of beliefs like an unexpected turn of events or a personal loss. In this past month I have experienced loss and uncertainty. Now, that I am settling from shock and upset into acceptance, I see that this has become another opportunity for growth and learning.

My adult daughter has made choices for her life that I may not agree with but it is her life to live as she chooses. My adult daughter has told me that she is pregnant, that it is her choice and her responsibility. She has already been to the doctor. I talked with her, gave her advice and made sure that she is aware of her options and she has asked me not to worry. So, I will not go into further detail as this is not the subject of this entry. It has taken time for me to process my feelings but I am stepping back into a place of calm and reason.

Something like this tends to lay a person open, stripping away the fallacies, exposing who they are and what they truly believe. In the past, I would have dealt with this kind of pain and fear with alcohol or a cigarette but I no longer drink or smoke. In the past, I would have prayed and fretted, trying to bargain with god but I no longer use religion as an addiction or crutch either. In the past, I have explored religion looking for answers, strength and comfort but only found more questions and discomfort. Out of everything that I have ever explored or learned the only true comfort this past month has been my divine given reason, my strength, and my own discipline to control my thoughts and my actions. When I was so afraid because I didn't know what tomorrow would bring it was a quote by a stoic philosopher that brought me the greatest comfort of all.

"Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present." -Marcus Aurelius

Does that make me a heathen, a christian, enlightened, deluded, foolish, wise? That is a rhetorical question because it doesn't matter. Labels no longer interest me. All that interests me is continuing to live this life to the best of my ability. I believe in the betterment of the individual, the family and society. This betterment comes about from knowledge and understanding and through our own confidence and ability to do what is right. This life is important and meant to be lived and lived well. In order to live well and effect positive changes I will continue to focus on living life with courage, truth, honor, fairness, discipline, peace of mind, industriousness, self-reliance, and perseverance. That is who I am, what I've got and the best that I can give. And you know what? I'm good with that.

"Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart." -Marcus Aurelius

jasminedragon @ 2009-10-19T14:18:00

2009-10-19T18:38:42Z

Thank you for all the kind thoughts about Zuzu. I miss my little guy but it's better this week. Mina is doing well. We've been giving her extra attention so she isn't lonely.

Called and wished my daughter a happy 18th birthday today. =)

After a stressful couple of weeks, we needed time off to unwind this past weekend so we decided to try out geocaching. Our first find was less than a mile from our house and once we found it we were hooked. We found 14 caches this past weekend which led us to some really cool places, some of which we never even knew existed like a ballpark beside our house and the gorgeous Mill Creek Preserve. We don't have a hand-held GPS yet so we've been locating the cache hides using the satalite maps of Mapquest and Bing. Hannah, Joe and I enjoy the thrill of the hunt and makes for great family time together. The best thing about geocaching is it combines so many of our interests, research and planning, learning about local history, discovering new places, hiking and nature walking, and collecting swag. It is great exercise too.

RIP Zuzu

2009-10-12T14:27:22Z

The vet put Zuzu to sleep this morning. The tumors had grown so much in the last six months. The vet recently lost her ferret to the same condition. I wanted so much to have Zuzu cremated but I could not afford that with everything else so we buried him in his favorite blanket with his beloved stuffed cat. He is beside Gateway, my precious cat that I lost not even a year ago. This has been so painful but I don't regret the time that I had with Zuzu. I loved him a great deal and I will miss him terribly.

Catch Up

2009-10-05T00:46:34Z

--I enjoyed going to Idaho with Shauna. I'm so grateful she asked me to go with her. I think my favorite part was talking around the table in the evening with Shauna and her Mom. I did a lot of walking and thinking too which was good for me. In the last year I have come to realize just how much I love Florida. I love visiting other places but when I'm away I miss my home like I miss a family member. That is really good. I used to not feel much of a connection to anything. I'm comfortable in my own skin and in my own space and that makes me comfortable exploring other places and connecting with other people. Oh yeah and the Cougar Bay area in Coeur d'Alene is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. We visited Harrison last trip and it was really pretty but if I were going to live in Idaho, I would like to live in Coeur d'Alene.

--Joe is so awesome. While I was away, he cleaned and landscaped the entire yard, organized the garage and he kept the house clean too. I'm very impressed. I loved coming back and seeing him. It is always so exciting after we've been apart to see each other again. I couldn't wait to get home and snuggle up with him on the couch and watch TV but I was so tired from traveling that I fell asleep after 15 minutes. LOL.

--We went to "Road to War" (the SCA event in Anthony) yesterday. It was a lot of fun. I hadn't shot archery in two weeks and I got my fix. They asked that we bring the medival critter (pendulum target) out to play so we did and I finally got to shoot at it for real. Joe was so funny. He shot out the support stick to start it swinging and then he shot at the target. We had several other novelty shoots, a clout shoot, and we did a royal round. Joe had top score for the Royal Round and was awarded in court. I was already "naked" so I chose to skip court and load the truck. Linda and I chatted a lot throughout the day but while we were loading up Linda and I had a chance to really catch up. We have another event in two weeks. I really enjoy events now and being an SCA archer.

--Today, I made some changes to the ferret cage. I made a better ramp and added polar fleece blankets and extra water bottles to each level for Zuzu. The daily supplement feedings are going well too. It breaks my heart that he has insulinoma but we're taking it a day at a time. Talking about it makes me sad though so I'm not going to go into detail.

--We planted some beautiful flowers today in the front bed. Mums, dianthis and another name I forget. I also got Hannah some Halloween decorations for outside. It was only a couple of dollars for the little yard ghosts but they are so cute. We put the little ghosts in the flower beds and set our pumpkins out by the front door and hung up our skull and crossbones windsock.

--Kerie turns 18 in 15 days. She starts work at her new job on Tuesday. She is in and out a lot but at least she lives here again. I like having her home.

--Hannah is writing a book that she hopes to make into a movie one day. When Hannah grows up she wants to be a photographer, an artist and a zoologist and have her own zoo. I love it and that would work out perfectly. She can take stock photos of her animals and use those for her drawings. After her schoolwork each day, Hannah works on her art and her book without any prompting from me. I love it that she is so creative.

I know I'm forgetting stuff but I'll have to leave it for another day.

Hmm.

2009-09-19T19:11:50Z

I leave for Idaho in a couple of days. Hee. I'm very excited but it has really snuck up on me. Um, yeah. I should probably pack. I'm not completely disorganized though. I got my haircut today. It was so much fun. The stylist and I started talking about Johnny Depp which led to much drool and her mentioning the Jack Sparrow look a-like at the medieval faire so I told her I knew exactly who she was talking about and how I worked the archery booth and we got into this whole glorious geek session, oh and I got a great haircut. She showed me the pics on her phone that she took at the faire. I love my new stylist, Melinda.

I also remembered to get my travel bottles for my shampoo and other such items. Oh yeah, and the cutest bag for my carry-on, on sale, pink and purple and black plaid. I'm on a budget so I refrained buying more shoes. I couldn't resist getting some minicci no show socks with little skulls and crossbones that will save me going barefoot on the floor when I go through security and have to remove my favorite flats.

19

2009-09-16T16:30:09Z

We're back from our overnight at the cabin. We celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary yesterday and it was so wonderful. The cabins at Gold Head Branch are awesome and fully equipped. All we had to bring is our food and change of clothes. We had the whole place to ourselves too. I loved sitting on the screened porch and staring at the lake. In the evening, before dinner, we walked down to the swimming area and waded. The bream followed us around. It was so funny. Joe grilled while I cooked a couple of side dishes. I baked brownies in the oven for dessert. We ate outside, at the picnic table, beside the fire. We had a couple of tenacious raccoons that visited us while we sat on the porch watching the fire. I'm glad that we had a latch on the screen door. We woke up early so we could watch the sun come up this morning. It was cool. We saw deer and we could hear hawks calling. After breakfast, we went to the ravine and waded in the creek. It was so peaceful. Hannah had a wonderful time. I couldn't have asked for a better anniversary.

Busy September

2009-09-08T19:59:54Z

How is it September already? I've been so busy but in a really enjoyable way.

School is in full swing and we are really enjoying the online classes. Hannah is doing a great job with her school work and guess what? She shares my interest in art. She has been learning to draw and she has a talent for it. She has created the cutest characters, winged ferrets called Nospers. She is making a comic with a winged ferret named Mason and a dragon and she already has four parts written. It is so creative. Yesterday, we went and bought her an art box, drawing pencils of different values, erasures, smudge implements and another art instruction book. She is self taught but asks me for advice and information and I stand back and enjoy watching her grow. It is very cool!

Kerie, is enjoying being on her own. It was hard for me when she first moved out. The place she is renting with three older friends was originally five minutes from where she worked so I agreed to let her move out a couple of months early but her job let her go Saturday because they had too many people on the schedule and she was the newest employee. I wish this hadn't happened because she is a hard worker and really liked her job but this is a valuable life lesson for her. She is searching for another job and I have no doubt that she will find work. Of course, she is welcome to move back home if she wishes.

This is a busy month in the best sense of the word. I've already had the SCA hunt this past weekend. Next week we spend the night in rustic cabin to celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary and then the following week I go to Idaho with songdancer and Miss Katherine. Very exciting!

Oh and Joe bought me an MP3 player last week. I said we can't afford it and he said yes we can, that I never buy anything for myself and Best Buy was having a sale so he bought me an 8GB Sansa Fuze with the USB wall charger and sport arm band for $119. I love it. It has an expansion slot so I can add a memory card or slot radio. Now, I can take my music with me and I'm not tethered to the computer.

OK, I'm not caught up but at least I got an entry written. ;)

The King's Hunt - Fall Coronation 2009

2009-09-06T18:02:27Z

Remember how I was to design the King's Hunt for Fall Coronation? I'm happy to say that the the moving target design worked beautifully and the hunt was a complete success. I'm relieved that the shoot went well and everyone had a good time. We got some very nice feedback and compliments. It was suggested that we bring the target out again for one of the upcoming shoots.

Here's more about what I did for the hunt... The King's Hunt, Fall coronation 2009