At the end of this post you will find something special. I hope. At least, I PUT something special at the end of this post, let’s just ASSUME that it stayed in place. And that it works.
Before we all go running off though, let’s look at some fun photos and see what our daily draw has to tell us.
Last night, as you know, Dan and I joined Carol and Herb for some (a lot) of visiting and some eating (not a lot, just about the right amount). We had a fantastic time and dinner was extraordinarily good (as it always is here). We were blessed with a delightfully sweet server named Grace. Grace, you guys! I can be slightly challenging as a customer, well pretty much on a general basis in EVERY aspect of my life. It’s just always so nice when we come across a hard-working young person, who understands these types of issues, and is willing to be so helpful, like the one we got to meet yesterday.
Here is the picture she took with the camera belonging to the Tall Canadians. (I was NOT kidding was I?! Fine, it MIGHT be that we are simply Short Americans. WhatEVER.)
And here is the view from my horrid wee El Cheapo digital device with the obnoxious flash, which leaves us all washed out and slightly ill-looking (not Grace’s fault though). Wait, only *I* appear that way, everyone else seems to be fine. (I must mention here that I can HEAR Carol’s voice in my head right this second going, “oh, Julie!” She is FAR too kind. But then, ya know, she’s a polite woman. From a polite place.)
Now let’s talk about hats. Yes, Daniel has been knitting me one chapeau after another. At first it was to keep my head warm on all those outings, but it was just as much to keep my bad bangs (fringe) down. I have unruly and poorly behaved hair, as we’ve talked about before. It’s growing, as hair does when you leave it the hell alone (five years this summer that I gave it all to my sister, to take with, on her way Home). I now have plenty of hats. Not TOO many, just a very large selection of them. All cotton, all cozy, and all of them making me look ridiculous when they are on my head. (Not that I NEED a hat to do that, but you know what I mean. See? Just look at that.)
Me and Max and knitwear.
There’s three on the table and one on each of us. Plus, he’s wearing a sweater that Dan made him. Or maybe he made that for one of the other dogs and Max is just wearing it. Hard to say, and no one cares anyway. Fortunately, the dog is adorable.
On our card altar we finally have permission from the Universe to go out and DO something. Good. About time.
“Achievement ~
Chase your dreams.
You may be surprised by where they lead you.”
Look at this illustration, enlarge it if you can. See down at the bottom that bright round light? Reminds me of those shots they take of solar flares or sun spots. I don’t always love the way this type of photo/picture/art is done, but I do sort of like this one. The moth is distracting, I like butterflies better, but I see the color palette and why it was done this way. (Which in itself is unusual, I NEVER know what I’m looking at half the time. Or why artists do what they do.)
I think, for me, the IDEA of this message is better than the visual portrayal of it. I’m just glad we received a sign that it’s currently safe enough to charge right out there and get some shit done. Now, let’s follow that lead and get something accomplished. Go vote!
Today’s Deck:
Self-Care Cards by Cheryl Richardson
All four of you look fantastic! Glad you got to be together and to have a great dinner with visiting.
You and Max both look great in your Danwear!
~
Thank you!
And I love this: DanWear.
J
I love the new way the replies appear, (and you know I’m not normally good with change)
It looks really nice in the bold and you are always so spot on.
You all looked amazing in those pictures! It can be hard to really ‘see’ ourselves objectively in photos, you look happy and healthy and so young! Whatever you’re doing, keep on with it – it seems to be working just fine.
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Thanks so much.
I agree about the way we see. But I’d go so far as to say IMPOSSIBLE to see ourselves objectively.
(You are so sweet to me.)
J
I’m with London Betty on the replies. I really like the new way. Please yourself, though. It’s your blog!
I love the pics with you, Carol and dh’s. You all look like you’re having a good time.
In the pic of you and Max you look about nineteen years old. Diggin the hats.
I am fully present and in a doing mode so I’m in sync with the cardage today.
~
)
Some info I got, about how the interwebz work (apparently!), from a reliable source, was the reason I am asking. When I saw Jenny Lawson doing comments inside of comments it seemed like a good idea, and helped with the clogged up runner aspect that was bugging me. But, I still want everyone to vote! (It’s my first poll, I’m very excited about it.
Always glad when we are “…in sync with the cardage!”
J
I love the replies, and I love smiling pictures of you, Dan and the darling doggies!
) Those are certainly some tall Canadians! lolol
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Thank you. Herb and I have a difficult time with smiling and photographs, our eyes disappear. . .
J
Cool hats, cool visit, cool people, cool poll. Great card.
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Lol, thanks.
“Cool” is actually what I strive for.
J
A poll!!! Go you!! Yes, I voted and so far it’s 100% on the it’s your damn blog, just please pay attention to us.
I thought I commented yesterday, but obviously not. In between the many emails between the boy child’s teacher and me, things did not get done. He’s fine, he just talks too much and disrupts class. And is disorganized.
~
Teacher attention and kid organizing is WAY more important than comments here.
(Also, you can come back later and we’ll still be happy to hear from you.)
J
I think you look terrific in the hat. For someone who always smacks me when I talk negative, you say the worst things about yourself. That is stopping NOW. I will note every time you are negative about yourself. Because you are cute and compassionate and loving and cheerful and positive and you do your best, whatever your best is at that time. So stop it!
Love you. You and Max are so cute in your DanWear. Yay Dan!
Also, Carol and Herb and you and Dan all look great in your pictures. Very fun. Thanks for sharing.
~
Do as I say not as I do?
No, huh?
You are exactly right. It is SO pot and kettle here, me and you. Thank you for the hand slap, it was deserved and well timed. Big love back atcha.
J
I agree with Skye…yay for DanWear! I’ve been following closely to see why I’ve been so hesitant to move forward on some issues. Hesitant? Me, the eternal procrastinator? (giggles) And chase your dreams is not only inspirational…but appeals to my inner child.
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I have to agree, pretty damn inspirational.
(Great to “see” you!)
J
I love the hats! I wear that same kind of hat almost every day of the winter. I may have to buy some DanWear (think pricing.) No, I’m serious.
I am vertically challenged like you, but the Canadians seem awfully tall! Everyone looks lovely–cozy and happy.
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It was my suggestion to take that picture with us all standing up, so you could really see what I’m talking about.
J
Oh, I must admit that it took me a few days to realize it was you in the bold print. Maybe there can be a header before the comments that says “Julie’s replies are bold- in print and content.”
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Lol, I love that phrase “in print and content”
but it makes me slightly concerned that both you and Dee missed the original paragraph when I said it in a post.
Good suggestion, thank you very much! I’ll figure out where I can place that.
(Because adding more words and clutter here will not piss off Hanna at ALL!)
J
Please don’t be concerned because I missed it. I didn’t comment that day because I was rushing and I miss things when I rush. I’m sure it was perfectly clear.
~
Mmmmmm
(Mixed feelings. I WANT to be reassured, but then, I wonder . . . .)
Thank you very much though. I appreciate that.
J
10:46 p.m.
2-29-12
Ditto what Skye said about the negativity. You are awesome, and we love you, no matter what you think you look like!
Wow, no joke about the tall Canadians!
And it’s your blog. Do whatever you want with the comments. It did take me a couple of days to get used to it, but now I like it.
Yay action!! Time to get moving!
~
Glad to hear that the situation is not distracting nor rude feeling. Even with some getting used to, I like what I’m hearing. It seemed like a nice, sensible way to go, but I REALLY wanted feedback from you guys. They ARE your comments!
J
Oh Julie!
Love the photo of you and Max and the DanWear. Look at that photograph. Best photo of the lot. Your camera took a better photo than mine. The flash decided, well….to flash. Inappropriate flash.
You should have a “likes” button with your comments. Megan’s comment says it all – “Julie’s replies are bold-in print and comment.” Likes!
Going for a walk around the park, without you. I’ll just replay our conversation about willpower and discipline and going after our dreams.
~
)
Not only do I NOT have a like button for the comments, but I’ve mostly turned off the likes on these posts too, as much as I am able to anyway.
(There IS a way to get around it, and some of you do know how.
But yes, there are times when hitting “like” just needs to happen!
Our weekend visits Saturday & Sunday, with and without the guys? LIKE!!!
J
Oh Julie = Don’t be so hard on yourself, Julie. (And I’ll not be so hard on me.
)
~
Deal!
J
I third Skye on the negativity – shame, shame!
And you look great!
Dan does stripes! Woo hoo! So many hats, I’d say you’re spoiled for choice.
Action, huh? That means I actually have to ‘do’ something. Can I take a pass and hibernate on the couch instead?
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Not JUST stripes, he even does patterns! The problem is that I am the most boring person in the world to knit for, he’d love it if there was a tad bit more challenge to some of these projects.
J
I’m loving the hats! Have not worn anything but a baseball cap in the summer…well, since moving to the desert where if the sun doesn’t shine for one day we get depressed. Ha ha.
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Funny you say this because it was my sister’s collection of baseball caps that got me started being able to wear ANY on my walks and rides!
J
Love the photo’s. The hats are so cute.
I’m happy for achievement. This cold has been a major stumbling block to achievement and I’m ready to get going again.
I thought I’d read all the blogs I’d missed, but what poll?
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Did you come back and find the poll?
J
the poll is right at the bottom of today’s post– if you don’t see it, maybe you need to have flash installed or something?? I just went and looked at the polldaddy website and it doesn’t say anything about that. Maybe just try refreshing your screen.
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Two things, THANK YOU for being awake during the day and answering questions like this for me!!!
And B) I love how so many of you go that one step further, and investigate shit, look a little deeper, research one more layer into it. Seriously. JulieLanders are like the smartest damn folks anywhere!
J
Nope — No pole for me. I knew you said there was something special, but never ever found it.
But it’s all right — at least the computer is letting me leave a reply. I will be happy for the little things.
I do like the bold of your replys.
This is completely bothersome to me.
Great pictures all the way through! and webs– you look great and way too young to be as old as me.
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Not up close I don’t.
J
Pretty Witch!!
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Lol, thank you! Have I said lately how much I adore you? And your awesome support? You are very sweet.
J
I voted!
Love the photos, you all look beautiful, and the hats are cute.
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Thanks, you guys are just as silly as I am. Must be why I love you all so much.
J
You all look lovely. I’m a little disappointed there were no food details, though. (Sorry. I’m hungry.) Also, I think you look good in a hat. (I look like a man.) Dan does a wonderful job with the knitting.
~
Ya know what? I actually DID think about taking a picture of our meal, but then, something shiny must have come by, or Grace asked a question, or perhaps just more talking happened… and it fell right out of my head.
Carol and I had the salmon special, with salads and baked potatoes, excellent winter veggies: fabulous.
Her beloved had a steak, with a side of crab legs (Dungeness!) and coleslaw: fabulous.
Mine had a chef’s special of Steelehead with some sort of glaze, winter veggies, and the chowder: fabulous.
Desserts were:
Key Lime Pie, a to-die-for-chocolate cake/torte thingie, and apple cobbler (crisp?) with ice cream.
Drinks:
bottomless strawberry lemonade, bar-style ginger ale (first time I had tasted that, it’s awesome and slightly bitter, gonna get it next time we go out), two glasses of local and very dark wonderful beers for the boys.
Plus they had coffee at the end. How was that?
J
OH! Almost forgot, one of the features I adore about this place is the sourdough loaves that you can keep having refilled in the baskets. With pots of whipped butter. REAL butter.
WEBS on you & your negative self-talk! You are adorable!
Yay for polite visitors from the North to visit & share fabulous meals with!
So, I am one of the 2 who voted “Go back to the way it was…” NOT becaue change is uncomfortable, in my case, but because I like it when your comments have timestamps! lol! I like to see that timeline/chronology… but (obviously) that’s just me being super detail-oriented (read: anal retentive). And, I am also just super-appreciative that you respond to each & every comment posted here. Politeness isn’t a Canadian-only trait… just much more common there (from what I’ve heard…). Thanks for giving us a place to share our opinions on the commenting change!
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What a beautiful sentiment, thank you.
Also, excellent! That is exactly the type of information I was looking for. And now I know that I’m not the only one who cares about the time! I’ll start putting that on, manually.
J
3:13 a.m.
Perfect compromise! Thanks!
Now, If you had a “like” button, I could say I liked Corina’s comment. I like the time stamp too.
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Glad everyone is weighing in, I need to know this shit!
J
10:38 p.m.
2-29-12
(The date is going to be challenging though, I’ll have to make sure and check to see what the hell day I’m living in.)