Jana Remy
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    • Disability
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    • Blogposts About Teaching

Jana Remy

  • Writing
    • Disability
    • Making History
    • Digital Humanities
      • dayofDH
    • Canoeing
    • Creative Nonfiction & Essays
    • Feminism
    • Bibliographies
      • Pacific Worlds Bibliography
    • Social Media
      • Mentions/Links
  • Scholarship
    • Awards/Fellowships
    • Conferences & Invited Talks
    • Collaboration
    • Workshops
    • Conference Planning
    • Technical Skills
  • Teaching
    • Blogposts About Teaching
Monthly Archives

June 2008

deep thoughts

the office

This morning I picked up the key for my summer office. It turns out that, for the first time ever, I won’t be sharing an office.

You know what this means? I can make all kinds of bodily noises and scratch myself whenever and wherever I want.

This is huge, people.

You know what else? Guess what I found on the wall? A map of the “Camino de Santiago” pilgrimage route.

The universe sure knows how to make this pilgrimgirl feel right at home…

June 30, 2008
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memory lane
familyphoto

memory lane


Our first home in SLC, originally uploaded by mind on fire.

Our first home in Salt Lake City (on Williams Ave near Liberty Park). I mowed the lawn each week with GameBoy riding on my back. Then we would lay in the grass under the trees and find pictures in the clouds. We made friends with the ubiquitous box elder beetles and watched lightning storms from the front porch while our neighbor serenaded us on his guitar.

June 28, 2008
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deep thoughtsmake me smile

je suis contente

What a gorgeous morning it is here in Cache Valley! John and I stole away from the wedding preparations for an hour to have breakfast together in a friendly cafe (so friendly that they even remember our drink preferences from yesterday’s visit!).

Yesterday I did the preliminary legwork for my research at USU later in the summer, I spent time holding and playing with nieces and nephews, I met the many friends and family members of the groom that I’ve heard about for so many years, I giggled with siblings and in-laws, and enjoyed June weather as it was meant to be.

In just a few hours our kids (duet on flute and cello) will be playing the processional as my youngest sister walks down the aisle. As they practiced last night and I watched their earnestness, my heart swelled so large with pride at these two gifted and beautiful creatures!

This is one of those days when one feels the whole world is alive and awake and smiling–life is so sweet! I feel as though I want the earth to swing just a bit slower on its axis today. To let this day last just a bit longer…

UPDATE: Thanks French police! I am contente and not content!!

June 28, 2008
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Ozzie & Harriet Redux
Random

Ozzie & Harriet Redux


Censored, originally uploaded by mind on fire.

John and I staying in the cute grandkids’ room at my Mom’s house. Snapping a quick pic of our good night kiss. :)
[Note: the grandkids all slept together in the bonus room while we got a bit of twin-size privacy]

June 27, 2008
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Ozzie & Harriet Redux
Random

Ozzie & Harriet Redux


Censored, originally uploaded by mind on fire.

John and I staying in the cute grandkids’ room at my Mom’s house. Snapping a quick pic of our good night kiss. :)
[Note: the grandkids all slept together in the bonus room while we got a bit of twin-size privacy]

June 27, 2008
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After dark
deep thoughtsfriendsphoto

After dark


sunset, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

Nearly every night for the past week I’ve gone late to the garden, watering as the night falls. Lingering until it’s nearly too dark to see my way out. Every moment that I’m there I’m afraid–mostly because of the little beasties that come out in the dark, but also afraid of other hazards. Like two nights ago, I purposefully placed my chair on the site where my leg was punctured. I sat there thinking about how scary that was, how scary the ensuing two months have been, how scared I am that my doctors still can’t agree on how to proceed from here. I let that fear fill me as I sat, and then let it fade away as the night grew progressively darker.

Tonite as I stood alone in the garden, leaning in the wooden fencerail and telling myself that the rustling in the bushes was just a big furry moth, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye and knew that I wasn’t alone.

It was the largest coyote that I’ve seen–heavy and full-coated. Nothing like the skinny creatures that I typically see in our neighborhood. I wondered if he was the reason that the bunny population is slim this year and two neighbor cats have recently gone missing. He paid no attention to me, but was intent on moving quickly down the service road that accesses the garden area.

I stood there awhile longer, mentally reviewing recent events. I thought of last night, sitting in Bonny’s porch and chatting by candlelight with some of my dearest friends as I watched the ocean mist roll in (what a lucky girl to live so close to the beach!). We had talked about our recent read of Three Cups of Tea and mused on the courage it took to risk one’s life and resources for the love of children half a world away. Then I thought about my frustration this afternoon after my doctor appointment. How my leg throbbed during the drive there and back in rush-hour traffic and how that feeling was exacerbated by every doc that I saw having an entirely different (and contradictory) opinion on my woundsite. Wondering if the medical system has failed me or am I just not asking the right questions?

My thoughts then turned to happenings after the doctor visit. How CatGirl and I had stopped at a craft store to buy a bit of yarn for some projects and I came up (again) empty-handed in my search for a turquoise bead to center this necklace that I’ve been dreaming about. We arrived home to the pleasure of two packages on the front porch and a friend waiting to chat. He was bearing a slim book on my favorite topic.

I spent the next hour unloading some of my frustrations about my doctor visit as we discussed faith and fear. I am afraid to travel to my sister’s wedding this weekend with so much unresolved about my health. But, as he reminded me, this won’t be Denver and me sitting feverish and sore and scared in a hotel room by myself. Nor will it be me breaking down in tears as I face down the TSA dimwits alone.

As I have learned time and time again over the past few years, life is about overcoming fear. It is standing at the garden gate and waiting for the moon to rise even when every part of your body wants to run to somewhere safer. It is explaining your story to yet another doctor as she puzzles through your chart and tries to make sense of it all. It is knowing that there are coyotes and cancers lurking out there in the dark night.

Those two packages that were waiting for me on my porch? One was a box full of dark chocolate and Summertime tea from some dear friends that I’m acquainted with through the magic of the Internet. The other was filled with beads, including a turquoise lozenge that is nearly exactly what I’ve been imagining (along with a postcard note reminding me of an unforgettable day spent in Concord not too long ago).

Catgirl and I brewed some rose-colored tea and nibbled chocolate and spread out our beadmaking supplies under the light of a lamp on the kitchen table. We giggled and dreamed and created together. Filling the gap left by fear.

June 25, 2008
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the birds
Random

the birds


Pigeons, originally uploaded by mind on fire.

John snapped this pic while he was in LA yesterday. This morning I will be in Meeting watching the birds swoop around the bell tower in Santa Ana. My thoughts and spirits soar skyward alongside them.

June 22, 2008
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toolz
Random

toolz


Can we go now?, originally uploaded by mind on fire.

About 20 minutes ago I told Catgirl that she could get the hammer and nails and hang some pictures in her room (we won’t even talk about how said pictures have been leaning against the wall since last August).

I’ve heard nearly-constant pounding coming from her room ever since and only one episode of glass breaking (her nice big brother schlepped the glass out to the trash and one of them ran the vacuum afterwards).

I’m looking forward to the “Trading Spaces” style reveal when she’s all finished.

June 20, 2008
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kindled
Random

kindled


orange, originally uploaded by pilgrimgirl.

There is candle in your heart, ready to be kindled.
There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.
You feel it, don’t you?
~Rumi

June 20, 2008
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science team olympian
Random

science team olympian


Junior High Science Toughs, originally uploaded by mind on fire.

June 19, 2008
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high schoolers(!) eat a lot
Random

high schoolers(!) eat a lot


Hungry Swimmer., originally uploaded by mind on fire.

June 19, 2008
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Mischief
Random

Mischief


Mischief, originally uploaded by mind on fire.

June 19, 2008
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About Me

About Me

Hi there friend, and welcome to my blog. I started writing on the internet two decades ago. Since then I've started and finished a PhD program, left the Mormon church and became a Quaker, got divorced, remarried, found full-time work in academia, took up rock climbing and outrigger canoeing, and traveled across the globe (China! Belgium! Italy! Chicago! Montana! Portland! Gettysburg! and oh-so-many points in-between). This blog is eclectic and random--it has poetry and cooking and books. And cats. And flowers. And the ocean (my ocean). But in that sense it's a good reflection of me and my wide-ranging, far-reaching, magpie curiosity.

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