Lara Schiffbauer's Blog, page 11

Funny Friday Photos: Traveling Polar Bears

Happy Friday!
News from the moving front--my house has more class than I do. The stagers came and made my house look like something out of HGTV. It's good that my children are with their grandmother, because I don't think I could keep it looking this nice with them here. It's hard enough with my four dogs. I am obsessively vacuuming every day.

News from the book front--I want to find a way to put a hang drum into Through the Fairy Ring. And some rock magic. I have some Earth magic already in the story, but I'd like to find a way to incorporate stones. And of course my mind goes directly to Ludo in Labyrinth. Not the effect I'm looking for, so I guess I'll be thinking on it. In the meantime, here's a YouTube video of a very cool hang drum performance.



Thanks so much, Lexa, David, Suzi and Veronica for commenting the last couple of posts. You are the awesomest!

Here are this week's photos, for your viewing pleasure.


The dog on the right looks just like my dog, Tumpa.

Look at those feet!

They're the perfect match. So nice Waldo and Carmen SanDiego found each other.




They need to make up their minds.



I found this funny because this past weekend I had some guy stare at me, more like the bottom picture. Most people, once you catch them looking at you, look away. Not him. And I totally didn't think he was staring because he thought I was pretty. I figure he was staring because I looked like a tired wreck!
Puns!

How'd they make those tiny mustaches?


I love the "In Turkey" pun. It was so unexpected it made me laugh out loud.

Which was your favorite? Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

Mindfulness Monday: Witches and Water Slides

Witches

I think I was a witch in a past life. Or, maybe, my ancestors were Italian witches, practitioners of Stregheria, and it's been passed on through the generations to me. Or maybe the witchcraft comes from the English/Scotch-Irish side of me. I've always known I feel a connection to the earth and nature, but today I realized the depth of that connection.

While I was mowing the lawn, I got very emotional about moving. I don't feel particularly connected to my house, but every tree, rose bush, buckthorn, tiger lily and iris all have meaning to me. The flowers, bushes and trees (the ones that actually continue to grow) are my family's history. When we moved out here, there was nothing but prairie and cactus. Now, there's the rosebush (among others -- I love roses) that was my first ever Mother's Day present; the tree that we had the sandbox under when the boys were toddlers; the tiger lily I planted as a seed, and then kept trying to pull out because I thought it was a weed. It stubbornly refused to go away and now is a beautiful plant; the irises that came from my mom's house just up the hill. You get the idea.

Plus, the parts of Wyoming I'm going to miss are going to be the outdoor parts--the call of meadowlarks, the swaying grasses of the prairie, the smell of pine trees blowing in from the west, hiking in the Rocky Mountains. Eastern Nebraska is very different. I'm going to try to focus on making new mindful memories of the world around me, once I'm moved, and find the beauty in a new place. I need to remind myself to not be judgmental, but to allow myself to experience the differences with openness and curiosity.

And move as many plants with me as I can!

Water Slides

Saturday we had a going a way party for the boys at the newly renovated municipal pool. (I am happy to report that people actually attended, and fun was had by all.)

A little backstory is necessary before I continue the story. I am constantly telling my kids that they need to not let their fears get to them. They need to try new things, and try to overcome the things that scare them.

Typical parent stuff, right?

Keeping that in mind, I must admit that I am claustrophobic, and it seems to be getting worse as I get older. When I wrote those claustrophobia scenes in Finding Meara, they were from personal experience. It doesn't help that I have dreams I'm buried alive or stuck in little boxes (ie. coffins.) Earlier this year I needed an MRI and had a minor freak out in the tube when I sensed the closest part of the tube pass over my face on the way through so they could MRI my lower back.

Well, part of the renovations were two new water slides. Our side of the pool was supposed to utilize the blue slide. It sounded like fun, and I talked my youngest into going down the slide with me (for some reason I didn't feel I could just go by myself.) We got to the top, and I looked into the mouth of the slide, and saw a very dark, very small, very long tube and went, "Nope."

I tried to talk myself into it, but the fear overcame me and, since all the kids went before me and I had no one to try to impress, I told the lifeguard I had claustrophobia to save face and went back down the stairs.

Once I was back in the pool, I started to feel more and more awful. What kind of a parent was I, if I let the slide (aka my fear) win? I'd totally lost all credibility I'd had about teaching my kids how to deal with their fears. I told my husband what I'd done, and that I felt like I really needed to go try again. He agreed with me, and said he'd go with me. (Awww, isn't he a sweetie. He also teased me all the way there...)

At the top, I nervously talked non-stop to my husband, detailing to him my plan for how to actually go down the slide this time and not chicken out. As I approached the tube the second time, I utilized mindful awareness to turn off my amygdala (the emotional center of our brains) and noticed how blue the slide was and listened to the rushing sound the water made at the mouth of the slide. Then, before I could get afraid again, I jumped in the tube, closed my eyes and pushed off.

I can only imagine how silly I looked at the bottom of the slide. Because my eyes were closed, I wasn't sure I'd reached the end, and so sat there for a moment to see if I'd move any more. When I opened my eyes, I saw that the same lifeguard who had been at the top the time I'd ditched out was now at the bottom of the slide. I gave him a big smile, raised my hands triumphantly in the air and said, "I did it!"

He was nice enough to cheer for me.

What makes you emotional, lately?Have you ever conquered a fear? Do you have any advice?

Funny Friday Photos: Cool Poodles

Oh, wait. Friday's here, already. Well, in some parts of the Earth, anyway. Technically, with me, it's still Thursday.

So, yeah. I missed last week's post entirely. My excuse is that I had a deadline to have my house ready for the stagers to come in and make it look fancy by Tuesday. I was killing myself (and my father, because my husband has been at his new job for the last two weeks) trying to meet the deadline, but then they switched it on me, anyway. That's how it goes around here, anymore. I keep telling myself that it will end eventually, I just have to make it through. Trying to keep a lot of positive self-talk going.

And have occasional, surprise melt-downs. Yesterday I went to ask a friend about a plumber and just started crying. I was like, "Wow." Usually I have some warning I'm going to lose it, but not yesterday!

My boys are done with school, and now all of my family will be in our new town, with the exception of me. Once my house is actually on the market, and I'm lonesome, I plan to finally get back to Through the Fairy Ring. One more chapter is all I have to write before I start the second pass. Don't give up on me!

Here's this week's photos!

Awww, However, if it was me, I wouldn't be hanging around taking pictures...
The fruit's in disguise...
Just a little creepy. Unless it's the first of an invasion...




So, the whole no makeup/no filter thing still annoys me.
You know what I thought of the instant I saw this picture?
Bradley Cooper playing Richie Dimaso in American Hustle.Puns!

If you've seen the show, you  know you've thought this before.


My favorite is the Richie Dimaso poodle. The similarity between the two makes me chuckle.

Which is your favorite?
How has your last two weeks gone?

Funny Friday Photos: Spy Dogs and Arm Rests

Yay for Friday!

Wait, actually, I wish I had a couple more days this week. Time is going way to fast for me to get my to do list done!

We took a break last weekend to see Avengers: Age of Ultron for Boy 2's birthday. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't talk about what I liked about the movie, but I was happy we went. There was some great storytelling, and there's one new character that I just loved!

We had a tie last week between the Sid dog and the Ewok dog. Click here if you want to go see them.

So, here are some new photos!



I feel this way when I'm in a class talking about social work-y stuff and kids laugh. I feel like such nerd.




I'd give him whatever he wanted!






Or Ood-kitty
One pun!




I have a definite tie between spy-dog and arm rests.

Which is your favorite?Have you seen Age of Ultron yet?

Was Shakespeare a Genre Writer?

I'm helping Such a Novel Idea celebrate their blogiversary by talking about two of my favorite things: Writing and Shakespeare! Come give me your opinion about if you think Shakespeare was a literary or genre writer, and sign up for some great giveaways, too. Today a signed copy of the Maze Runner by James Dashner is up for grabs. Look forward to seeing you there!
Was Shakespeare a Genre Writer?
From: I Can Has Cheezeburger?
PS: There won't be a Mindfulness Monday post tomorrow. I'm behind with "getting the house ready to sell" chores, and have to focus on that today. This week I've been very aware of taking time to breathe and center though. It's been kind of a hellish week.

Funny Friday Photos: A Square-Headed Dog

Happy Friday!
Before we get to funny photos, here's a picture of pure joy. 

We should all strive to have more moments that make us feel like that dog looks, I think.

Last week's favorite was:


Thanks to everyone who commented and voted!

Here are this week's photos:



Squirrels are everywhere, after all. They get all the dirt.

He does look like Sid!




Not only does the dog's haircut make it look like a piece of toast, but his face looks like an Ewok, down to the lips!

At the end of our move, this is what I'll be saying.
I wish I was one of those people who loses their appetite when stressed.And a pun!


Cat ScanI think my favorite is the toast dog. I can't believe people are cutting their dog's hair into squares. It's an added bonus that it resembles an Ewok. It just needs the leather hood.

What's your favorite?

Funny Friday Photos: Instigating Dogs

Happy Friday! It's the weekend!

I'm keeping it short this week. Let's just say I'm multi-tasking and feeling a little distracted. My mind is truly four different places right now, and I'm not feeling like I can even make a decent sentence. Here are the new photos and I hope you all have a great weekend!







Or not.


So not good. How do you fix something like that?And one pun. Sorry. :(




My favorite is the instigator. But I really like the plan ahead sign too!

Is there anyone that you liked better than the others?

Mindfulness Monday: Moving On

The Present Moment

The point of Mindfulness is being present in the moment. Experiencing and being aware of the "now" in life. If the moment is an uncomfortable moment, staying in the now and knowing the discomfort will pass is key. If the moment is comfortable, then all that is required is to enjoy the moment, but be aware that it, too, will pass.

Since working on being more Mindful in my everyday life, it has become easier to let go of anxieties and worries, and embrace the good in every moment. It's also become easier to see each moment for what it is. When I began to realize how my work stress was carrying over into my home life, I tried to be more mindful about leaving it at work, but to be honest, it's a lot of stress and compassion fatigue hits social workers hard for a reason. At the same time, I noticed my husband was having difficulty leaving his stress at work. Over the last several years, entirely without meaning to, we had joined the "rat race."

In November we began talking about what we needed to do to become more balanced as a family. We decided that downsizing and moving to eastern Nebraska to be close to my mother was the best solution. My boys have missed her terribly, and the cost of living is much lower there. It would be the only way I could work year round. Otherwise, if I were to just change jobs, we'd have to pay for childcare and it wouldn't be worth it. If we live where my mother does, then the boys get their grandma and we have free babysitting!

So, long story short, my husband has finally found a position in eastern Nebraska, and will be changing jobs accordingly. The boys and I'll finish out the school year, and then we'll be joining him. I have no idea what I'll be doing for a living. I'm hoping to work part-time, and who knows where that might be.

Now I'm using what I know of Mindfulness and meditation in a whole new way. I periodically freak out about moving us all from the stability and security of what we know. I think it's because I have children. When I was in my twenties and childless, I'd move around frequently. When I was nineteen my sister and I wanted to live in New York, and so on a whim became nannies. I get wanderlust pretty regularly and love seeing new places. But, the thought that my choices might make my kids miserable has kept me stable much longer than ever before in my life.

So, I breathe, and practice yoga regularly, and I let the calm I find in meditation and yoga fill me with faith that this will be a good adventure. I let go of my momentary fear, and remind myself that, even if it isn't, we'll get through it just fine, too.

What this means for writing

There are two ways this move impacts my writing. The first is that we're trying to get this house ready to sell, and also get us all ready to move. While it doesn't really affect my writing time during the week, it definitely does on the weekends. I'm not using social media as much, either, because I'm packing or cleaning, and then writing with whatever time I can find, because I really want to get this book done!

The second is that I don't know what a greatly reduced income will mean for self-publishing. Through the Fairy Ring is set, because I've been saving money to publish it. I had grand hopes when I published Finding Meara that I'd sell enough to pay for publishing the next book, but that doesn't seem to be happening. I'm one of those self-published writers who basically has a very expensive hobby, apparently.

Maybe all the reduced income will mean is that it takes me longer to be able to save up the money to publish. Since it seems to take me two years to even write a first draft, I imagine that's plenty of time to save up for the publishing costs. Some day I may have to evaluate if self-publishing my books is really worth the financial investment, but right now I just enjoy writing stories and all the stuff that goes along with publishing them.

Please bear with me if I am not around as much, or if I miss a post here or there.

One plus for packing is that I found my old photos, and found the one of the butterfly on my drumset I talked about in Moth Memories. I've shared it below, just because it's such a pretty butterfly, and transformation is the name of the game right now around our house! If you look carefully, you can see that February is on the calendar behind the drums.

Have a wonderful week!

Funny Friday Photos: Dogs at Warp Speed

It's Friday!

This cute little lamb is the epitome of my feelings for Friday.
I had the ending of Through the Fairy Ring pretty much written, was down to the last scene this week, and then decided to change it. I feel like Charlie Brown kicking the football. So close, and yet still far away.
Last week's winner was:
Not really clear cut, so I'll just move this post along.
Here's the new photos for you!
It just feels nice to know you don't have to go anywhere.
The thing I love about kids.






I know I'm short a photo, but I just couldn't find another one I liked enough to include in the post. But, here are the pun photos:


Those would be "cable ties."

The limelight.
Okay, I want to share a work story. It was just too cute. If you don't want to read it, you are officially finished reading the post, and thanks so much for stopping by this week.
There is a kindergarten girl who is the sweetest, kindest, most well-behaved girl. She's got big, round, brown eyes, straight brown hair and a good heart. She has an older sister who is in eighth grade, who is also absolutely wonderful and kind.
When I was in the kindergarten girl's class teaching about positive thinking this week I had some extra time at the end, so I asked if the kids would like to watch a quick Sesame Street video. Some wanted to, other's didn't, but while the kids were arguing with each other over what we should do (we ended up doing a GoNoodle activity), this little girl came up to me and said,
"I like Tom Hiddleston and [her sister] only likes Loki."
Totally surprised, I looked at her, eyebrows raised and said, "What?"
She repeated what she said, and I repeated it back, and she nodded. "Yes. I think he's in the Cookie Monster one."
I told her she was right, and she gave me a shy grin. So apparently she likes the actor, while her sister only likes the character, Loki. I guess Tom Hiddleston fans start young.

That's it for this week! I hope you found a funny photo that you liked more than the others.While I like the rug with eyes, my favorite this week is Han Solo's dog.
What's your favorite?

Funny Friday Photos: Dogs of the Corporate World

Yay! It's Friday!
We made it through the week!
The lesson I learned this week is never, ever mistakenly pay three-times your monthly mortgage amount, and then try to stop payment on the bill pay. It makes a huge mess.

Last week's favorite photo was:

A tie, actually, between shaved dog and fruit cocktail. Go here if you want to look a them.

Here's the new photos:





I've had a few of these kinds of haircuts.

When a quilter goes bad.

Otherwise, it's smooth sailing.







I don't know why, but this made me really laugh. I guess because I wasn't expecting "get in front of the car."

He's not the good boy, he's the dashing boy.

When you work with children with colds, especially the really young ones.Puns:


I love its face!

Every night.All righty, then!
My favorite this week is the corporate comparison. I chuckled, especially at the pug intern.
What's your favorite?