... They are more palatable when volunteered for.  But even when challenges arise that you certainly weren't looking for, they can have potential for positive (and of course negative) personal change and growth.  I prefer to find the positive in such episodes and hopefully be able to realize the negatives as they arise.

Very early one morning few months ago, Mr. Tat and I, away on vakay, found ourselves face to face with 4 masked men and a gun in our hotel room...I know we both considered the possibilities of how the night could end.

In this case we were fortunate enough to have heard the intruders.  To be fair, it was Mr. Tat who heard them coming up the balcony to our 2nd floor room and when I saw them, I screamed.

The ordeal seemed to take forever but it was probably less than 8 minutes.  Someone had heard me scream and a few minutes later the hotel's security officer was at our door. I yelled out and the thieves ran back where they came from. 

Police came and talked with us. Then a trip to the station a few sleepless hours later and it was over. 

The hotel's manager and a maid there were very sympathetic to us and we are very appreciative of their support. The hotel's owner was extremely good with helping us to take our vacation back, though I have to admit it wasn't the same afterward.  He also compensated us for our losses after we returned home.  I know we would have had an all around great time there if not for our experience.

So what do we do now?  Be a wee bit bolder.  Don't take garbage from anyone.  Remember to live.  Try our best to not live in fear.  Keep traveling.  Continue to trust that most people don't want to harm us.

My latest challenge was the Leonardo Challenge.  I try to participate every year because it's so damn fun.  This year's theme was maps... I love maps!  I don't think I rose to this challenge as well as I could have but I'm still pretty proud to have completed the vision in my head.

Amidst the snow...

This business of killing over a religious offense is outrageous!

The Charlie Hebdo killings is out of hand and I applaud the French for standing up for CH against these extremists because if they/we give in and censor ourselves to avoid debate or because we're afraid of a response, it will be only the beginning of a road to less freedom of expression and eventually NO freedom.

The Sony hack and Sony's original response not long ago is a less chilling example of people who want to impose their will on others.  I am glad that the company changed its response and released that movie...craptastic though it appears to have been according to reviews.

Let those who want their freedoms limited, practice what they wish, but don't kill others because you want to limit their freedoms... that is insane!

We are not slaves or robots, we are thinking, sentient beings.  All of us will not agree on everything and there will certainly be opinions I find offensive, but to KILL over someone else's opinions, I think, turns us into irrational, unthinking, self-absorbed beings only focused on getting what we want, in this case, blood.

I know the first thing that comes to MY mind when I think of body fluids is blood.  Of course I realize that there are a host of others I'd rather not name at the moment.

Saw this body fluid clean up kit on a bus.  It was unexpected, but I suppose necessary.

Now I'm wondering what's inside.

Last month my cousin, who lived in the U.K., died.  It was very unexpected.  Still in her 40s, she had only gotten married 3 years ago.  Some of us were there for her wedding, it was a happy time.

Now, for better or worse, another family member this year has left this world we live in.

The last time I saw her was in March when she and her two sons came for our grandmother's funeral.  I appreciate now that she was here and we got a chance to be with her before her death.

This cheesylicious pic was taken at the Grand Central Market. Mmmmm.

Visited NY city for Val-day weekend and ate more cheese in one sitting than I usually eat in a week... which really isn't much but I do love cheeeeese. Thank goodness for the invention of the cheese plate, especially when the cheese is good.

I went skydiving with a friend a few days ago.  I'd wanted to do it many many years ago and when this opportunity came up I couldn't pass on it.  Of course, being an on again, off again sissy-pants, I needed company and only one person took me up on the offer.

The teeny weeny plane that took us and our tandem guys up could ONLY fit the four of us and the pilot.  My tandem instructor, Joe, took pictures throughout.

My friend went first, the little plane door opened, she and her tandem instructor moved to the doorway for a second and then it seemed he pushed her out with his body.  If she wanted to change her mind it was too late!

Whoa Nelly! When it was my turn, just as my friend, at the door there was no turning back... and out we went! 

For the first few seconds I couldn't breathe with the air rushing at my face.  It felt like that for a long minute but it was probably a lot shorter.  Then I forgot the instructions I'd gotten on the ground to do the banana (arch back, legs up and back, head back, arms raised up at right angles).  To be fair I arched the back and raised the legs but held firmly to the straps I was hanging on to before we jumped.

In any case, instructor Joe opened the chute and all was well. 

I cannot fully explain the feeling of being up in the air, floating to the ground, nothing between me and the atmosphere and seeing all around, the green of trees and bodies of water.  So beautiful!

Mr Tat whom I dragged out to see me jump (and who was safely on the ground, where he's happy to be) was there taking pictures and probably breathing a sigh of relief that nothing negative happened. 

Eaaaarly the next morning on the highway going home from the big city with two other friends, we had a very near miss with a car stalled in our lane around a curve and a man behind it waving a flashlight.  My friend swerved to miss him and his car but apparently the driver behind us wasn't so lucky, we heard a crash right after we moved out of the way.  I didn't hear cries of pain so I HOPE the man is OK, as well as anyone who was involved in that accident. 

That event did make me think how ironic it would have been if in less than 24 hours of jumping from a plane I'd then be hurt or dead from a car accident.  Life seems very random.

Mr Tat and I recently stayed at an inn by a harbour in Maine.  Our room had a great view of the harbour, oh my, I could live there... in that room that is, the town itself didn't thrill me too much  though the restaurants we visited had some gooood food.

Right on the water is where I like to be, generally preferring tropical but I wouldn't discount a harbour, bay, lake, pond, puddle...

Alas, it was for a short time and I'm back now to regular life.  Where's my fairy godmother dammit!?

It's here again, so I think I'll find a ladder to walk under, an umbrella to open indoors, and a black cat to cross my path.  A friend reminded me to step on cracks and spill salt willy-nilly.  Have I missed anything?   Probably a lot but this is good enough to start with.

I saw this smiling, shining family in a store window today and the creep factor was all over it.  Maybe it's all the years of watching scary movies... Chucky comes to mind, and for some reason, Children of the Corn.

Yesterday's fog is a distant memory.  The blooms are out, today is Friday, and I'm getting on the happy train!

FINALLY!  I'm seeing buds on trees and people in shorts.  That's going too far. But I didn't wear a hat today, though I brought it just in case...Did wear the scarf though.  I took a chance and left home without my usual extra padding (52 degrees is still a bit chilly in my book) and a brisk walk to work gave me some warmth. It wasn't bad at all. 

It's supposedly in the 60s now, I'm looking forward to a walk downtown.  Real joy will come beyond the 70 degree mark but I can definitely live with this.

Kids are tough!  I'm babysitting my little niece and she is BOSS-E!  She'd be a dictator in her own little world.  I suppose many kids are like that though.

But just when you think you've won a battle, you realize you've been brought down anyway... I woke up this morning with a horrible sore throat.

The little lady was sick to begin with, I knew that, but I thought I was invincible.  That'll teach me!!

On the edge of March, with April knocking on the door, I was hit with chunks of snow on the way to work this morning.  It kept coming down and did not look like it would stop.  I know at the beginning of winter I said something about appreciating the snow but Ay!  I've had it up to five feet!

I'm glad it didn't last.  The sun appeared and it's supposed to have gotten to the 50s today.  In any case it's mostly gone now -YaY!

Someone's hedging their bets!

We buried my grandmother three days ago.  She was 92.  She enjoyed getting attention and she certainly got a lot with two services, one where she lived, and one in her hometown.  I'm glad we could only bury her once, and I'm sure she would have loved her sendoff. 

It's so interesting to hear what people you don't know have to say about your loved one.  Some people from her church had lots to say about her and in my mind some were spot on!  It made us all laugh or nod in agreement.  One or two comments made me think "you're talking about my grandma!!?" but regardless, each had their own perspective of and experiences with her.  She was here and she made an impact.

Alriiiight!

More businesses need to ICE their sidewalks never mind letting the snow pile up and turning into solid ice.  And heaven forbid I meet someone walking in the opposite direction! That's when we do the ice dancing, ungracefully skating around each other.  Ah well, it's supposed to be in the 40s today so by the time work is done I'll only have to swim home.

Went to the Liffey's with friends last night to see a band I've never heard of.  I don't have enough experience photographing indoors with low light so I figured I'd work my camera a little.  No flash. Most of my shots stunk.  These I liked.

a bit of movement

Well it looks like I'm going to keep getting opportunities to take pictures of snow. It snowed yesterday, and there's more on the way.  I mean, we get a little break in between but not enough of one.  I know, "Wah wah wah...get over it!"  I'm trying. 

On the bright side, there were so many scenes I wanted to capture on the way to and from work (some I did and a few have been posted). 

What is it that's so appealing about snow?  Is it the fluffies?  Maybe because we don't live in it 24/7 so it's a change of pace for some of us?  Because it's a blanket of white over everything? 

When I first saw snow, it came down in little flakes, like ashes, and I thought "that's IT?  that's snow?  Puh!"  From pictures on postcards I'd expected it all to come down at once, looking neat and pretty...Little did I know!

It just keeps coming. This time it was just a dusting but even some southern states got some (a rare treat and a curse I can imagine).  The Canadians are probably laughing at us.

If I could dress this set, I'd fill the snow back in where it was shoveled away. "Gofer! more snow over here!". Regardless, circles make me happy.

No it's not a new camera.

Found this while helping my mom clean out her basement.  Zenith laptop computer with a whopping 40MB hard drive at the very low price of $2999.99.  The catalog is from 1989!  Whoa Nelly!

Dammit Jim!  I caved and took the gosh-darned moon pic a couple of days ago.  Just...couldn't...help...myself.  Anyhoo I used my phone's camera (which I need to learn more about so I can take better pictures with it).

Took this one this morning of a bench with little icicles on it.

I saw a beautiful moon last night while heading home.  I was really tempted to take YET another moon pic with my phone but fought the urge.  I thought "this time I will just remember it as I saw it".  Of course that means I have to write about it.

It looked full or near full with that fuzzy glow around it.  Telephone lines crossed through my view of the scene but it was still beautiful.