Whether the weather is cold… or whether the weather is hot… we'll weather the weather… whatever the weather… whether we like it or not.

It was a perfect day today…weather-wise.  Low humidity, clear blue skies, a gentle breeze, bright sunshine.  The kind of day you yearn to be outside.

For me, though, I ALWAYS prefer to be outside.  The minute I wake, it’s a 5-minute ritual just to open all the windows and doors in the house.  I detest the air unless it’s 90+ and/or extremely high humidity.

I am sure my neighbors have noticed that for the past 33 years or so, I am always outside during those perfect and sometimes not-so-perfect summer days…and spring days…and fall days.

If I am not in the backyard, I am in the front yard.  And for some unknown reason, it always involves water.  I find it extremely relaxing to water my grass by hand.  Forget the sprinklers.  I stand in my bare-feet with the water running and get lost in thought whiling away the hours. (With the thoughts I am thinkin' I could be another Lincoln, If I only had a brain.)

Which brings me to my sunroom.  About 7 or so years ago, I fell in love with the English Conservatory.  You know the type.  Glass windows, glass roof.  Of course knowing now what I didn’t realize then (or just didn’t want to hear), glass windows and glass roof translates to hot Hot HOT!

It’s beautiful in the early spring and late fall.  When it’s 35 degrees out and sunny, I take refuge in my room and soak up the sun. If I close my eyes, I am ALMOST basking on a warm beach on my own secluded island. 

Well, today, I tracked down a contractor who fixes sunrooms and conservatories.  Mostly he builds them, but with the economy and everyone trying to spend a little lighter, he’s been doing more “caring” for the older rooms than building new additions.

 

I’ve had a leak in the glass ceiling.  He’s been out before and tried to fix it, but this stubborn leak sprang again.  I think we may have gotten it, this time.

So, until it rains again, I’ll be basking in the sunshine...inside or out!

Pretty in Pink?

I attended a graduation ceremony today, watching all the pomp and circumstance as the graduates strutted up the aisle proudly wearing their tassel-caps signifying school work well done and behind them.  They are now on to new things, taking all the lessons learned and shifting to a new phase in life.   I couldn’t help but think how fast these lives were moving, and if only they could have the foresight to truly understand all that is important in life. 

Midway through their march across the stage, each graduate was approached, quickly introduced to the crowd, and questioned as to their goals.  “And what do you want to be?” questioned the teacher as she bent down and put the microphone to the mouth of babes. 

OMG!  I cringed each time I heard the word “Princess.”   Don’t worry, though...there were a few other aspirations.  batman…princess….an occasional soccer star…princess…doctor (yes, a young girl’s answer)…princess…princess…spiderman….princess…even a veterinarian or two in there.

What a ROYAL pain!  Is this what we teach our children?  Hasn’t this Princess thing gone a bit too far?   Just take a stroll down the “girlie-girl” aisle of any toy store and you will be blinded by hues of bubble-gum-pinks and psychedelic purples.  Aisles where glittered, feathered, fairy-dusted toy boxes hypnotize unsuspecting girls as young as 1 to “pick me...pick me!   Warning:  The instant little ones are snatched into the clutches of this potentially life-altering aisle, they are trapped until they are at least, what?   10?  

If it ain’t pink…it stinks!  Is that the message the toy manufacturers are sending?  Little girls and the me, me, “look at ME syndrome!”   I am all for little girls acting like little girls.  I just love the clothes and ALMOST everything girly.  But come on now. 

I know, it was only a Pre-School graduation.  Let’s just hope that by Kindergarten graduation these little princess-graduates will have an understanding…YOU already have the Crown Jewels.  YOU are capable.  YOU are smart.  YOU are competent.  You don’t need Prince Charming to rescue you.  You will be perfectly capable of rescuing yourself, thank you.

For another humorous outlook and explanation on "Fairy Tales" for children read:  http://www.facebook.com/l/f30a6/barefootinhighheels.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/the-anti-princess-diaries