You'd think given the number of Halloweens I've dressed up for this would be a simple process. Yet, here I am, less than twelve hours before I need to leave home in a costume still debating. And, yes, I know, people have far more important things to think about - including me - but nonetheless this is what I'm thinking about.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Dentist
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Gongs and Quiet
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Monday, October 26, 2009
Computers
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Ritual
Working Saturday
Friday, October 23, 2009
Telling Our Stories
"We are our stories. We compress years of experience, thought, and emotion into a few compact narratives that we convey to others and tell to ourselves. That has always been true. But personal narrative has become more prevalent, and perhaps more urgent, in a time of abundance, when many of us are freer to seek a deeper understanding of ourselves and our purpose."
When I started writing about my daily life here more than five years ago I didn't anticipate that anyone would read it beyond a few members of my family and a couple of friends. I can't tell you how flattered I am that you read along and share life with me.
This has been a catalyst for meeting a number of the people I now consider friends, and has made other casual relationships deeper. It was even a factor in me getting the job I now have at the Cosmosphere. (Odd, but true, my blog helped me GET a job, instead of the opposite, which seems far more common.)
I've been writing every day since I was a child. Since my friend, Martha, shared the article from Scott Ginsburg about how writing every day influences your world view, it has been on my mind. There is some wisdom in what he says about how writing helps you define what you believe.
I sometimes think of this blog as the ultimate in narcissism. But it is one way I tell my stories. Perhaps the self-centered part of it is that I tell one almost every day. And, lets face it, I don't have a fascinating story to tell every day. Some entries are more of the "chronicle of life" variety, while others are a synthesis of ideas that have been cooking in my brain for awhile. But all of them give a bit of a snapshot into who I am and what I think about.
I believe blogs have grown in popularity because we have a need to connect with other people and this is one way we can do it without risk. We can read someone's blog at any time, on our schedules, and visit their world without any commitment about how long we'll stay or what we'll do while there. Maybe it's one of the modern ways we capture our stories.
________________
Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, cooking and more. Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and other social media sites of your choosing.
All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Halloween Costume
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Cookbooks and Other Books
This has been a full day and I'm overdue for some sleep. But, I don't have all the projects done that I need to accomplish. Seems that's my story every day. It's not that I'm lazy - I'm working diligently all the time - there just don't seem to be enough hours.
I did go visit with friends tonight for about 2 1/2 hours. But one has to have some fun in the days as well as work.
I've been working on the cover for the cookbook I am putting together from the past 15 years of my columns in Kansas Country Living magazine. They generously gave me permission to make a book from them and I've been working on that. The difficulty now is that I've got to find someone to print it for a price that makes it reasonable enough that anyone will want to buy it.
It's going to be a straightforward book - basically photocopies of the columns - with a cover, binding, etc. The binding is the cost that's out of control. I haven't found any place locally that will do it for anything I consider a reasonable price. I may have to shop around in Wichita a bit. Or, at some point it may make more sense to use an online service to print it. We'll see. I want to have this done in time for Christmas this year so I have to figure it all out soon.
So many things I'd like to do and just not enough time to get them all done. I stopped at the library tonight and left with a stack of books, as I always do when I set foot in there. I'm still totally enthralled with the concept of public libraries.
At the moment I'm reading, "Lamb," a book Andrea gave me earlier this year that I hadn't gotten to. It is a hilarious read. If you have any suggestions for books I should read during my upcoming recuperation, please share. I'm always on the lookout for good books. I need another "Geography of Bliss" in my life.
Speaking of books, if you're in Hutchinson or environs, remember that Daniel Pink is speaking at the Dillon Lecture Friday morning. I'm going to refresh my memory on his book. Frankly, I highlighted so many things in it that I probably need to read it 2-3 more times. Anyway, people are always asking how I know about things happening - well, here you go - it's happening Friday morning at 10:30 - so be there!
________________
Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, cooking and more. Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and other social media sites of your choosing.
All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Doodles Help Memory Retention
![](http://www.patsyterrell.com/images2/20081005stars.jpg)
For many years I have been one of those folks who doodles in meetings. I'm quite fond of stars, in particular, as you can see in this photo from a meeting I attended in October last year.
Fortunately for me, and others of my kind, this is now more acceptable. And for good reason. A story in "Applied Cognitive Psychology" earlier this year reported that people who doodled while listening to a boring tape remembered almost 30 percent more a minute later than those who took notes.
So, there you go.
Please don't assume that because I'm drawing or scribbling that I'm not listening. I'm just listening differently.
________________
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All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Last
This may be the last bouquet of the season. My flowers are nearing the end of their life cycle. Of course, it has been chilly here off and on for a few weeks, so it's not surprising that the flowers are about done, but nonetheless it's one of the obvious signs of the seasonal changes.
I stopped taking flowers into the office a few weeks ago when they became ragged looking. Some of them have hung on during these cold nights, but most are about finished.
I grew all of these things from seed when I was so infatuated with growing flowers this spring. I think after surgery I just needed to see new life and that was one way to do it. Now I'm facing more surgery as the last blooms are coming through.
Sharon and her crew came over a few days ago and cleaned up my yard, pulling out the plants that were done and tidying everything up. I was so relieved to pull into the drive and see it done. It has been on my mind how I would get it done so I'm so thankful to her for doing it. She owns Releaf Landscapes and is very generous with her talents.
This has been a very difficult day, mentally preparing for surgery. I had psyched myself up for surgery but they threw me a curve ball today when I visited with the surgeon. Then I got back to work and found yet another curve ball. So, it has been a difficult day. But, I'll manage. I have no other choice.
I got to see Steve briefly tonight. He drove Greg back to Hutchinson from Joplin and we visited for just a little bit. He was turning right around and going back to Joplin. I always enjoy visiting with Steve. He's a great writer, and like all good writers, thinks about things in a different way, which I enjoy.
I'm feeling rather disconnected these days. I have that feeling of "circling the wagons" and preparing things like I did earlier this year. The difference this time is that I'm doing it alone, but that's okay. This isn't the same sort of situation. Part of me wants to postpone this, but a bigger part of me wants to start 2010 fresh, with none of this hanging over me.
Well, it's time for me to head upstairs. I couldn't get to sleep last night for a long time, and then woke up really early this morning, so I'm tired. Maybe tonight I'll be so tired I'll sleep despite what's on my mind.
________________
Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, cooking and more. Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and other social media sites of your choosing.
All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Road, Friends and Creating a Book
Last Wednesday I spent the night in this house - the Madison House Bed and Breakfast in Girard, Kansas. My room was huge and very comfy.
I stayed in Girard because I was doing another session for rural tourism folks on how to use social networking Thursday morning. It would have been nice if I'd had more time to enjoy the room, but I got there late and left early the next morning.
The bonus was that Greg went with me. Girard is only about 45 minutes from Joplin, where his mom lives. Steve is visiting and he came over to pick Greg up in Girard so I got to see him very briefly.
It was funny hat night, I guess.
This weekend I have taken it very easy. I had a long lunch with Annie Saturday, which was really fun. Then Saturday night Trish invited me over for chili with her, Teresa and Patti, who I had not met before. It's really comforting to have someone cook for you. I forget how lovely that is.
Today I've been trying to get some things done around the house, but I confess I haven't accomplished much. But, I have gotten some things off my to-do list this weekend that I really needed to take care of - a graphic design job and the materials prepared for the book I'm working on of my columns from Kansas Country Living.
Some time ago they gave me permission to create a book from the columns I've written for the magazine over the years. Earlier this summer I started gathering them up and got copies through inter-library loan of some I didn't have on hand. This weekend I got them all organized. Now I have to decide if I want to write anything additional or just combine them into a book.
I sometimes think I need to stop looking for projects, but they seem to find me.
________________
Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, cooking and more. Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and other social media sites of your choosing.
All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Reconnecting
This week I got to have lunch with Sharon (left) and Andrea. We all worked at the same radio station years ago. It seems like it was a long, long, long time ago - 20 years maybe. Sharon is still in radio, but Andrea and I have both moved on to other things now.
Sharon lives in Michigan, where she manages a radio station. She was visiting here and asked if we could get together. It was great to see her. The three of us had lunch and caught up a bit.
I am always impressed when people make an effort to connect when they're traveling. It's no easy feat to make the arrangements and make that happen. I'll confess I'm not very good at it, myself. I always have the best of intentions but it rarely goes beyond that.
With facebook these days it's amazing how connected we all are, regardless of where we live. But, nothing is the same as sitting down across the table from someone and visiting.
________________
Check www.patsyterrell.com for the blog, art, cooking and more. Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and other social media sites of your choosing.
All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Back Home
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Social Media Classes
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
True Leadership
Letting It Settle In
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Life and Changing
A week or two ago I was looking at the vision collage on my wall and thinking, "hmmm... gosh.... maybe it's time to do a new one of those."
It was this collage I did with friends at a retreat in Ramona in April of last year.
The thought didn't go any further than that, but it did cross my mind to do a new one. Well, when I came home from the hospital the other day, the collage had lost the pushpins holding it to the wall on the top and was bent over so it's no longer visible.
I guess if one were looking for a sign, that might be it. The whole point of vision collages is that you need to be able to see them everyday. This one, conveniently, has just made itself invisible. It's time for a new one.
However, today was not the day for it. Today I cleaned off my desk at home. And it took all day. Embarrassing, huh? But now there's a vast expanse of wood showing.
I'm going to make an effort to keep it this way. I'm so sick of not being able to use my desk effectively because it's covered with stuff. And it's not stuff I particularly need handy, apparently, because it just piles up. I'm not actually using it, I'm just storing it on top of the desk. That is not a good way to live.
It was a good thing for me to do with my time, because I decided to take it easy this weekend. I'm a little sore just from the moving around taking things from one room to another, but feeling better all the time. I think in another day or two I'll be feeling pretty normal.
I am so dreading having more surgery. I can't even really express how much I'm dreading it in so many ways. One of the things I've learned in the last few months is that people in your world get very weary of hearing about your concerns about such things. So, I've learned to keep them to myself by and large. But, when you're the one on this side of the equation you can't help but think about the "what-ifs."
Yes, this is a "minor" surgery. When you're the one being cut open nothing seems minor. And I don't even feel fully recovered from the last time I was cut open. But, no matter how many tears I cry over it or how scared I am, it's still going to have to be done. So, I'm working on changing my attitude about it. My current one is not going to be a good way to go under. So, I'm going to have to get a new one. Quickly.
I'm allowing myself to wallow until midnight tonight and then that's it. So, I've got another 26 minutes to fret and freak out and then I have to make a mental shift.
It takes considerable mental energy to make that sort of a shift and I'm running a little low on that these days, so I'm conserving my energy on all fronts to devote to this. This has been a year much loss for me - everything from body parts to a dear friend to some really painful emotional losses - but life goes on and I'm going to have to go with it.
One of the things I repeated to myself for many months after my mother's death was, "The sun is gonna rise in the morning." No matter what is going on in my life, the sun will come up, the world will spin, and life will go on.
________________
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All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Cold, Lazy Saturday
Friday, October 09, 2009
Home
Thursday, October 08, 2009
better
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Hospital
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I'm in the hospital in Hutchinson. I came in late Monday with a little blockage in a hernia but I'm feeling better. I will probably not have to have emergency surgery, but obviously will have to do the surgery sooner rather than later.
And btw, the NG tube is the season's hottest accessory. I hope to not be in style very soon. (I can only blame the morphine for posting such a thing.) Mary Ann is doing well in KY. Thanks for your good thoughts. Patsywww.patsyterrell.com
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Monday, October 05, 2009
Waiting
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I'm still waiting to hear the evening report on Mary Ann. Surgery went well. They think they got all the cancer. Your continued good thoughts are appreciated.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Weekend Ramblings
I've spent the weekend working around the house and have made some progress. That is not to say that things are tidy and orderly, but they're a bit better. I'm not sure exactly what my difficulty is with getting organized and staying that way. I suspect it may be that I have more things than I have room for. When you don't have enough "away," it's hard to put things away.
It was a gorgeous weekend here, and unfortunately I didn't really get to enjoy it, although today Greg and I did go out to the flea market. (Reference the last sentence of the previous paragraph.)
I bought a few old, hand crocheted potholders and doilies, but those were not my "big" purchases. I bought a box of old Christmas ornaments for $2, and a Winart Pottery Teapot for another $2. It's pink with brown on it and a very large teapot. I will try to get a photo soon and post it. From my reading online tonight I understand Winart Pottery operated in Miami, Oklahoma from 1951 to 1972. This is in great shape but I guess I need to find out if it's something people are trying to collect before I start putting boiling water into it. I bought it just to use as a teapot but I'd hate to ruin something that someone would just love to have for a collection. So, I'll check into that a bit.
You may have noticed photos on the blog are harder to come by these days. The reason is not that I've lost interest in doing that, it's because my computer has gotten slow in its old age. Twice now I have been at Best Buy and said, "Okay, I'll take this one..." and they don't have it in stock. At this point I think I should wait until the day after Thanksgiving and see if there are any spectacular bargains. Although that seems a long time for now it's only about seven weeks. Anyway, if you've noticed I haven't been working with the blog as much that's why. It is a real struggle to log into the necessary programs sometimes. Rest assured that as soon as the computer is replaced I will be bombarding the blog with at least one post a day, and sometimes more. This thing has served me well, but it is ready to be retired soon.
I took this photo in Iowa last weekend, outside an Amish bakery. It was a real Amish bakery, with no electric lights. I guess all the baking is done with gas. I live near an Amish community and I respect the ideals, but I have to say I'm always a bit puzzled by these sorts of things. The idea is to remain separate from "the English," as they call the non-Amish. It's hard for me to see how having a retail business guaranteed to draw the very people you supposedly want to keep your distance from fits into that picture. I'm always curious about such things that seem to be complete contradictions to me. I'm sure there's more to it than I understand.
This has been a nice weekend - the first one I've had completely free in a few months. I can't say I've done anything that most folks would find enviable, but I needed to be in my house and quiet and somewhat still. I haven't had much stillness lately, and I need some of that every week. Just like I need some alone time.
The last couple of weeks have been beautiful here, but they're saying later this week it is going to get cold and we might even have some snow. I'm not ready for that yet. I haven't even fully enjoyed the garden yet, and they're talking about snow. The seasons are moving too quickly for me. In fact, the whole world is moving too quickly for me at the moment. I need things to slow down just a little bit so I can fully enjoy and appreciate them.
I talked to Mary Ann yesterday. She goes for her surgery Monday to remove the lung cancer. It will probably be about noon when they start. We're very optimistic - it's a small place and they anticipate they'll be able to remove all of it, but it's always frightening when your loved ones are having any kind of surgery. Your good thoughts are most appreciated.
________________
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All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Friday, October 02, 2009
The Days Turn Into Weeks
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Cathedral of the Plains in Victoria Kansas
![](http://www.patsyterrell.com/images2/20090930-056w.jpg)
St. Fidelis Church at Victoria, Kansas, is one of the most sacred places I've ever been. I'm not Catholic, but you can feel power within these walls.
I stopped late Wednesday afternoon on my way home from teaching social networking for the rural tourism folks. Rarely do I go by Victoria without a visit to the Cathedral of the Plains. Rarely do I leave there with dry eyes.
For reasons I don't understand, being inside that church makes me very emotional. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude when I go there.
I always light a candle and say prayers. It seems right.
On this afternoon, the sunlight was streaming in like I'd never seen it before. It was a memorable visit.
________________
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All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
How We Go On
But at the end of her piece she said something that jumped out at me, that I had to quickly write down before it escaped my brain.
"All the best novels are about one thing: how we go on."
I started rolling through my mental list of books I love and discovered she has hit the proverbial nail soundly on the proverbial head. How we go on. Yes, it's all about how we go on. How do we go on after love or death or both. How do we go on after embarrassment over things done or said. How do we go on when it seems impossible? How do we go on?
I'll be thinking about this in regard to my own writing.
Glass packs many beautiful phrases into this short piece, but I would be remiss in not quoting the full one regarding how we go on.
"All the best novels are about one thing: how we go on. The characters must survive the fallout of their own cowardice, folly, denial or misguided passion. They squander what matters most, and still they pick up the pieces. I've been there and, clearly, so has John Dufresne."
I've been there, too, but I've never expressed it so eloquently. This is truly an exercise in using the language judiciously. One way we go on is to write. Oh, to hope to use words well when doing so.
If you want to hear the delightful piece, or read an excerpt of the book, go to the NPR site.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Old and New
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This has been a day of old and new. I was driving to the west this afternoon as the sun was setting and this scene reminded me of that combination of extremes. Wind turbines are a more common sight on the prairie these days. They're a new way to harness a timeless power.
This morning I went to Radio Kansas to give good wishes to retiring General Manager Dave Horning. Dave hired me to do news at the radio station many years ago, and then gave me a chance to become a PR person. It has been on my mind all day that many of us were brought together in this life because Dave hired us at one time or another. I'm guessing that may be strongly felt by Anthony and Carolyn, who met at the station, who are now raising their four sons in Indiana.
Ken invited me to do an on-air interview with Dave and I wasn't at all prepared, but it was great to be on the air there again. For reasons I can't fully explain, I always feel comfortable holding a microphone. People often me what a great voice I have and I keep thinking I should be in a line of work where I'm using it more, but as of yet I haven't figured out what, exactly, that path is. I'd love to do more voice work. I really enjoy it a great deal.
I'm really happy in my new job and was really happy to be at my old work place, seeing people I used to work with, as well as new folks there. I chatted with Ric a little and Sharon quite a bit. Geralynn and I talked awhile and I said hello to other folks who are working there and who used to work there. I guess I missed Andrea by just a few minutes.
We don't always know what kind of impact we have on other lives - something worth remembering as I go through daily living. Old and new and inbetween all merge together into life.
I went over and shook Dave's hand when I was leaving and said, "Mr. Horning, I hope you throughly enjoy retirement." I don't know that I've called him "Mr. Horning" since I returned the phone call he left on my answering machine about coming out for an interview more than two decades ago, but it seemed appropriate in the circumstance. I hope nothing but wonderful things come his way in retirement.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Geeks On A Saturday Afternoon
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All text and photos on this website are copyright Patsy Terrell, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. None are to be used without permission. Thank you.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Pumpkins
![](http://www.patsyterrell.com/images2/20090912-031w.jpg)
You may remember the saga of my pumpkins earlier this summer. Well, first of all, in case there is any confusion, let me tell you this is not one of my pumpkins.
I had my first pumpkin patch this year and it was looking quite wonderful in my backyard until the squash bugs arrived. They came one weekend when I was gone and destroyed my pumpkins before I had returned Sunday evening. I was not a happy camper about it. Frankly, I'm still not.
Before the arrival of the pests, I decided I would enter some pumpkins in the fair. I even did the paperwork online and printed it out. I was all excited. I did not expect to win anything, but I thought it would be fun to see my pumpkins there with the others.
Well, when I was at the state fair, I went and looked at the pumpkins. This was the grand prize winner and it was perfect. I mean, perfect. Beautiful orange color, perfectly curved stem, gorgeous. If somewhere in the back of my mind I had any delusion about one of my pumpkins netting any kind of ribbon, it was quashed. Soundly.
I was glad I had not forced this shame upon the two pumpkins I managed to save from the bugs. They may not be beautiful enough to win a purple ribbon, but I love them just the way they are.
And I'm mighty impressed by this perfect pumpkin. Very impressed.