Lesson 888: Balance

 Hello, Readers!

It's the 888th blog post.

I was hoping for something spectacular

to write about,

because 888 is a neat number.

No play-off game.

It's rainy and windy.

No good news to share...

especially if you turn on the national news.

Tonight feels sort of ordinary

bordering on dreary.

Needing some inspo,

I looked up 888

for the heck of it.

Well, there.

That's better.

888 

is telling all of us feeling similarly

that it's all about balance.

The gray skies and ice surround

yet so do the first peeks of spring.

I think our only funny thing

in the past week,

has been Gus's attachment

to these speech therapy puppets!

I'd rather be cheering in gym

sitting on uncomfortable bleachers

than curled up in my comfy chair

with my blanket and a book.

Boy, this one is good though!

I'm almost to the end

and still don't know who dun it.

In Chinese traditions

888 is referred to as this:

Eloise loves number 3,

and my 3-3 birthday is on Monday.

Tomorrow is a new day

and another chance to do good.

Looking forward to it.

Eloise

Lesson 887: Cold Snap

 

Good morning, Readers.

Every once in awhile the newspaper arrives late.

We've been play-off basketballing it all week,

and last night was another late game in Edinboro.

Both were close and exciting,

winners decided in the last few seconds of each game.

One went our way.

Note the smiles.

Last night did not.

Every game there are bad calls.

I do believe the refs always try to do their best.

This time,

in the final seconds,

there was an over the back called on Sam

that was not that at all.

I praised Sam on how well he handled it.

I have never seen reactions from him on the court.

He really keeps his cool.

Sam said,

It's part of the game.

You just have to play through it.

We aren't out yet--

we have another game next week 

against Farrell.

This scrappy team is really looking forward

to another chance.

I was seated across from the student section.

Teens are funny.

Odd birds to observe.

Some have grown very accustomed to me

and sense my lens.

Even from across a big field house.

What are the Lamp Posters 

on the lookout for this weekend?

Hopefully some relief from the cold snap.

Wet cold,

ice,

                                                    and snow continue throughout out region.

I'm finishing up this good book.

I can't figure out the mystery.

We are trying to choose a paint

for the living room.

We called in Niece Megan 

to settle a few fights.

Mr. Lamp Post is drawing up some plans

to make me this!

4 x 4 raised garden bed,

so I can experiment with 

16 different small crops!

I never want to hurry spring,

as you have to let Mother Nature do her thing.

But I am anxious to get growing.

Garden Princess has been preparing

her flowers.

She is going to have an epic

flower garden!

She's welcoming this extended cold snap.

Have a great weekend.

Eloise

Lesson 886: Love Life

 Happy Valentine's Day, Readers!

It has been a snuggly one this year.

We are still under a blanket of snow

and ice.

Our driveway is deadly.

It's been a long winter,

and we like to help out our animal

and bird friends.

There are tracks all over the yard.

Look who cannot keep her nose

out of the footprints.

This disgusts her sister Hazel,

who much prefers to guard 

from her soft chair.

I lost my favorite places to sit today,

as Hazel guarded,

and this guy took up the couch.

We are unspeakably sad

as he lost his last high school regular season game

to a case of the pukes.

Sam is a blue Gatorade guy

but if he wakes up

I'd like to give him some sips of this.

Ahh,

this crazy life we lead.

The freezes and thaws,

the wins and losses,

and the Gatorade and puke bucket.

Still, 

we love life.

I love this page a day calendar I got for Christmas.

Actually Natalie does.

She's my calendar girl.

She is the calendar caretaker 

for about 10 around the house.

Flip the calendar day is her favorite of the year.

Everyone has their thing.

Natalie loves her calendars.

My guys--sports.

Me--I like cameras.

And books.

And kids.

And animals.

And sourdough.

OK--I like a little of everything.

Ellen--she's into crochet lately.

She made the Six Day Star Blanket.

She found it on YouTube from a 

creator called Betty McStitch.

LOL.

Grandma loves Valentine Cards.

That's how many she sent to just my family.

She has a huge collection of them.

She has some beautiful antique cards 

she displays every year.

Life lovers were out in full force

at the Unified Sports Bocce Match

at Harbor Creek on Wednesday.

See these kids?

They are the I in the DEI

which is has become distasteful 

when rolling from the tongues

of leaders I do not support.

Speak the I.

Say it.

Inclusion.

Spread the word.

Spread the word because it works.

Weekend Homework.

Read this information

and carefully consider the implications

of any losses to our gains.

Some of what DEI is:

-ramps and sidewalk curb cuts

-subtitles & captions (TV & phone)

-family restrooms

-changing tables in men's restrooms

-breast feeding/pumping stations & accommodations

-floating paid holidays

-pay equity & transparency

-parental leave (time & pay)

-coming back to a job after birthing a child

-not having to just accept workplace harassment

-work accommodations for a variety of disabilities

-flexible work arrangements

-size inclusive chairs and beds in medical facilities

-belt extenders on planes

-various food options for vegetarians/vegans/kosher/gluten-free/etc at medical facilities

-non smoking areas/end of smoking indoors

-being able to have medical professionals and your coworkers use your preferred name (lots of people have those)

-wellness programs and incentives

-more relaxed & inclusive dress code policies

-rooms to pray/meditate at work & other public places

-employee recognition programs

-employee/network resource groups

-large print materials

-materials in different languages

-multiple religious options at hospitals

-accessible bikes and public transit accommodations

-businesses not becoming fully cashless

-company-covered mental/behavioral health resources

Some of What DEI isn't:

-hiring an under qualified person for a job just because they're a person of color

-hiring based on race just to meet diversity goals (this is illegal)

-a new fad or buzz word. DEI work has been going on for many many years, under different names

Love life.

Eloise