deep thoughts

Expectations. We all have them. Things we expect to happen [grow older, have a job, get married, have kids (or not), etc.]; things we expect FROM people [respect, friendliness, dislike, indifference, etc.]; and things we expect OF people [respect, decency, interest, intellect, help, independence and/or dependence, etc.].

As life has recently shown me, one really shouldn’t expect to have a future – don’t expect things to happen … plan for tomorrow, but live for today.

But as for the people around you…an intelligent person I met many years ago pointed something out to me: NO ONE is required to live up to your expectations except for YOU.

But see, that works for the negative too. What I mean is if you try to NOT expect anything from anyone you’re still projecting your expectations on them. That goes for yourself too. Self expectations feed on comparisons. If you expect people to judge you as you see them, then you will be fighting a loosing battle. Everyone has their own definition of the world, their own interpretations, and EXPECTATIONS, of how people should be [kind/mean, happy/sad, helpful, etc.], who should do what [parents should always…?], and how they themselves should fit INTO this worldview.

And their view will NEVER be the same as yours.

So in reality, you will never live up to “their” expectations, which you have defined for them.

Hmm. I think one thing to try is to be as open-minded, -spirited, -armed, and accepting as possible. A very important friend of mine once said that he doesn’t DISbelieve anything, because anything is possible – proof can always be disproven, and vice versa.

This leads to the subject of dreams. I think everyone has a dream or two deep in their heart. Heck, many people don’t keep them buried deep, but let them out to frolic in the sunshine – possibly to grow or fade away. What I think is important is the faith and power one puts into those dreams. If it’s just a “pipe-dream” it will fade away – maybe leaving a warm glow behind full of simple “what-might-have-beens,” or leaving a dark hole waiting to fester with genuine regret. But if it’s a strong wish-dream, one with faith/power behind it, it has the potential to grow stronger, fuller, more possible in the sun – to potentially blossom.

And dreams tie back into expectations. Because the two overlap/meld/feed on each other. If you have a strong dream (not a plan, but a hope-for) then you start to push it into the realm of an expectation. Which can be either great, or dangerous – it depends on how you approach it. This is where the pain can happen – that you see the world through expectaglasses… that you start thinking all you need to do is really dream/see yourself in a situation for it to HAPPEN -- thus expecting circumstances to help things along. Those circumstances do not happen. Nothing will come along and help you get to where you want to be. It’s all up to you.

And that’s where faith and power come in, but it has to be faith in yourself and the self-power to act in/on your own behalf.

Because in the end

you are IT.

And now for something completely different....

I realized today that I didn't post anything about the past Christmas holidays. My Mom came down to stay with us for a week - I didn't want her alone for her first Christmas as a widow. Oh, and I really like spending time with her too - she's an amazing woman.

Even my dog loves this woman!!

She flew in on the 22nd...just a few days after our FIRST major snow storm. Luckily back in December it melted quickly. We didn't plan a lot, just spent time relaxing. But one super fun thing we did - went to the Kennedy Center and saw Young Frankenstein!! WOW was it great!!! (Mom found out it was coming to Detroit and bought tickets to go see it a 2nd time, even!!!) Other than that, we met up with some friends of Mom's who have a house in Maryland, and then just relaxed the rest of the time.

Love you Mom!!

It ain't heavy...wait, YES it is!

When we saw that one of our neighbor's electrical wires was stuck in the snow on our garage, and that the weight was starting to pull on it - hubby to the rescue!

It's Official

1) I hate winter. . . with a MAJOR passion.

2) DC has broken its past record. We have now officially had 54.9 inches of snow this winter...over 40" in the past week. The average for DC FOR THE WINTER is 15".

3) I REALLY hate winter.

Deja vue - or Here We Go Again

sigh.

Yesterday and last night - at the beginning of the SECOND snow storm.


And today during the BLIZZARD.

OMG!!!!

You just CAN'T be serious....the Weather people are predicting ANOTHER STORM!!!!

Supposedly starting tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon and continuing through till Wednesday evening - this new one has recently been upgraded to probably dump 10-20 MORE INCHES ON US!!!

help.

It stopped!

The snow finally stopped at around 6:00pm today. So we suited up, and took the pup for a walk in the street. Oh, and here's a picture of the back deck chairs to give you an idea of the "damage" that over 20" did...The storm total is around 23".

Afternoon "delight"???

It's STILL snowing at almost 3:00pm...We're up to at least 20", and the snow is predicted to continue till late tonight. Wow. Things happening around here...a ladder truck (those really long, big ones, with the "driver" in the back?) got stuck trying to turn a corner - a wrecker had to be called in....also, a church's roof collapsed - no one was inside or hurt. I think hubby is going to shovel off the roof of our extension, just in case. I feel confident about our main roof, since it's all new as of 3 years ago.

Update - Saturday #2

Now later....this is from 11:30am this morning. It's still snowing. Note that the trail hubby shoveled at 8:30 is almost filled in.

Poor tiki - it's almost up to his nose...

For more pictures, go to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordwitch/

Update - Saturday, #1

wow...last official estimate for DC was 21"....yes, that's TWENTY-ONE INCHES.

And it's still snowing. Really glad we still have power. Oh, and a plow just went by, so that's a good thing too.

From last night:




And this morning...

Update #2

Ok, now it's 10:30pm....and it's starting to get a bit windy. Hopefully the wind will knock the snow off those wires - and NOT take the wires down too!!

And out front...

The street looks really bad...and it's still only 8:30! I'm SO very glad that I don't have to drive anywhere in the next 48+ hours!!

Update #1

Ok, it's now 8:30ish....getting a bit worse - check out how those wires are hanging...

The Beginning....

The snow has been falling for about 5 hours now...not too bad yet.
This is at 5:30pm.

snowpocalypse - take TWO!!

They are predicting 16 to 24 INCHES....here it comes again....I will post pictures....and sigh a lot.