What do you see?

I haven't been taking many pics lately because of the rainy and cold weather. However, I have been doodling and writing a lot recently. I can't say I'm much of a talented drawer but I do like to doodle.

I'm off to take pics this weekend with my brother and his best friend, Smitty. Wish me luck! It's a professional photography gig that Smitty has asked me to come help out with...I hope he realizes I'm still an amateur. Ha. At least I'll get to see my brother for the first time in over a year. It should be fun!

I couldn't pass up the opportunity...

...to share about this city as well. If you know how important the environment is to me, you'll understand why I am in awe at how polluted this city is. You have to click on the link below the article and watch the video to understand the full effect...

"A number of Chinese cities could've made this list for the same reason - pollution - but Linfen takes the cake because it has the dirtiest air in the entire world.

A small city (pop. 4,000,000 - yes, that's a small city in China) located in southern Shanxi province, Linfen's air pollution problem is legendary, a result of being one of China's largest coal mining hubs. The air is filled with soot and pollutants and water is contaminated by arsenic. There is a heightened risk of bronchitis, pneumonia, and lung cancer for residents.

The entire Shanxi province, a hard-scrabble region on China's western central plains, is plagued by air pollution. Shanxi has 270 billion tons of proven coal reserves, and coal is everywhere - piled in back alleys and sold in burnable cubes. Until China's government makes a more sincere effort at cleaning up the environment, the sun won't be shining in Linfen for sometime to come."

http://www.realclearworld.com/lists/most_dangerous_cities/linfen.html

Are you happy with where you live?

Well, as many of you know, I have thought about moving away from North Carolina for about 10 years now. I haven't quite made it out of the state permanently yet (besides spending a significant amount of time in Chicago). However, there are a few places I KNOW I would NOT want to live...here is one place I had to share with all of you who read this blog...

"How does Norilsk, a city of 134,00 on Russia's far-flung frozen tundra, make our list? Well, this is how Time magazine described it:

Norilsk was founded in 1935 as a Siberian slave labor camp, and life there has pretty much gone downhill since.

Norilsk is home to the world's largest heavy metal smelting complex, with little or no regulartory oversight. Polluted water and air make life expectancy in this city around just 40 years. Within 30 miles of the city, there is not a single living tree.

And it's pretty darn cold. Norilsk is the northernmost city on the planet with a population over 100,000. Average temperature is about 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 Celcius). The city is covered with snow for about 250-270 days a year, with snow storms for about 110-130 days. Other than that, it's really balmy up there.

Just in case you're thinking about visiting - the city has been closed to foreigners since 2001."

Who knew people lived in places like this? Or maybe I should ask, why would people live in a place like this? Do you think they enjoy that the city is covered with snow for about 75 percent of the year with an average temperature of below freezing?? Sometimes I think it's too cold in North Carolina. I am quite boggled.

Inspired...

I would like to write more on my blog. I haven't had a chance to take pictures recently because my weekends have been busy, and I haven't been inspired to take as many recently. I'm sure that urge will return when Spring comes into full bloom.

Sometimes I have a hard time deciding what to write about that is not too horribly personal and yet interesting at the same time. I have thought about using this as a way to publish some of my poetry, but that seems a wee bit personal. Maybe someday I'll feel okay to use this as an outlet to let someone besides myself read what I have written. Anyway...I digress...

Today I have decided to write about this quote that I found in a book I have. I take immense comfort in reading books with quotes and little inpsirational bits and pieces that I can use in my life; I have quite a few books that include short quotes for inspiration or quotes that aid my pursuit in understanding life. I love these books, not only for my own reading pleasure, but also because I find them extremely useful when I create collages and gifts for other people.

So, here is what I wanted to write about today:
"The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well." --Foe Ancis

This particular quotation struck me because I often repeat this other phrase that I inherited from various close friends: "Normal only refers to a setting on the washing machine." I think our vision or perception of what is "normal" can often damage our view of ourselves and our own experiences. Who creates what is "normal?" Each of us has some idea in our heads about what we think is "normal" based on what we perceive other people have that we may not have or may want...or what society tells us is "normal." However, this idea of "normal" is just a masquerade. Each of us has the opportuity to see past the masks when we realize that our own experiences create what is "normal" for us and no one else.

Cinderblock Ice Palace...

I have decided that instead of moving, I am going to purchase a space heater. I am finally going to break down and purchase something to warm the space of whatever room I want to occupy. It seems like a big investment because a really good space heater is close to 100 dollars. However, I just realized last night, as I was up late researching quality space heaters, that I can also get a space heater that doubles as a fan for the summer, which means I can use less air conditioning as well. I am investing in my future warmth (and cooling), and I don't have to go through the dreaded process of moving. I think it's a good decision. What do you think? I think I've suffered through the cold long enough (sixty degrees, inside a house, is cold, really cold). And isn't my Cinderblock Palace just oh so cute!

The Cinderblock Ice Palace...

Well, it snowed...

Yes, that's right. It snowed. Despite my effort to emit negative brain waves into the upper atmosphere to avert the possibility of snow and another snow-make up day, my magical powers just aren't strong enough yet. It was such a blow to my ego this morning when I realized that my magic brain waves had not worked after all because I awoke to the 6am phone call from the automated school telephone service telling me to go back to sleep because we weren't going to have school today. It had snowed. (Remember when I liked snow just a few posts earlier?)

I have to admit, and you may think I'm weird, but I was bit disappointed that we weren't going to school today. I had my lesson plans ready, I was going to be observed by the principal, I wanted to go to hip hop class (which was canceled because of the snow), and I'm tired of being in the Ice Palace.

Regardless of my initial reaction, the snow is beautiful and it was nice to spend several hours in Caribou enjoying a soy chai tea latte and grading those stacks of King Arthur papers that I have been avoiding. It was sort of like having the teacher workday that is going to get taken away from me later this month. It's not all bad to have a snow day, but it's better to have a two-hour delay--we don't have to make it up AND we get to school 30 minutes before lunch. Word. Tomorrow is going to be such a great day!

Lots and lots of icicles...







And the first signs of spring hidden just below those snowflakes...

Is it Spring yet?

So I changed my calendar to March today since it IS the first day of March. I noticed that "Spring Forward" happens on the 8th this year, which is a week from today! I shout out loud: "Woohoo for more daylight hours!!" I am ready for spring and warm weather. I'm tired of living in the Cinderblock Ice Palace. It's overrated. In case you don't know what it's like to experience the Ice Palace for yourself, just imagine living your entire winter days no warmer than 60 degrees. If you sit for an hour trying to get stuff done, your nose will start running. Often, you have to sit around with several layers on, including a scarf, hat, several shirts, a sweatshirt, maybe more than one pair of flannel pj pants, and slippers. And just so you know, I'm not exaggerating.

So I would like to preemptively welcome Spring into my life! (Sometimes this makes me wonder if I can actually live anywhere other than North Carolina since most places that I want to live have winter for much longer than we do here.) Warm, sunny weather shine down and fill my house with heat!!! (By the way, it's supposed to snow tonight...)

Some snow pictures from before (let's hope I won't be repeating these tomorrow because I refuse to make up any more days of school!):