2011.06.07 FYI Audio Pronounciation

Read this:
Ever wondered how to say a word?
Or heard someone say a word differently than you thought it was pronounced?
This just happened to me with the word "opacity".
Go to the Merriam-Webster dictionary and click on the audio-icon next to the word of your choosing.
And, then you'll know.

2011.06.06 Random city photos . . .

2011.06.04 Synergy

synergy:   the working together of two things (...) to produce an effect greater than
the sum of their individual effects
from definr, incredibly fast dictionary

To devote time and energy to the things which excite you,
you may need to remove yourself from things you are currently doing ---
however, don't drop activities/people from which you derive inspiration or ideas
or those things which are energy-inducing.

We all have activities/people that, when we leave, we feel energized,
ready to dive back into our own projects, renewed.
People with passionate ideas fuel a synergistic energy with our own passionate activities.

Have you ever left a gathering or a workplace and felt drained?
When sleep was the only thing you felt capable of doing?

Have you done the opposite?
Left and can't wait to get to your own projects, art, blog, writing?

I've done both.
And now I consciously test my feelings.
Am I energized, excited?
Or dragging?

How should I be spending my time?

How should you be spending yours?

2011.06.02 I'm lovin' it . . .

Went visiting again . . .

Here we are together in shadow . . .

and reflection . . .

So much to see . . . the new . . .

the older and not-so-new mixed . . .

the textures . . .

and this one . . . 

used here . . .

2011.06.01 Simplify and organize the upstairs shelves

Upstairs, at the top of the landing,

there is a wall of shelves which runs the width of the house.

There is an opening to the hallway in the middle of the wall.

The left shelves are used by John and Theresa and kiddos.

The right side has books, boxes, and magazines belonging to Vince and me.

I had two goals:  open up some shelves for John / Theresa

and just eliminate things I no longer need; I didn't change Vince's things.

Although this photo only shows the shelves above the railing height,

this is most of the right side "before" I started . . .

The shelves aren't overly crowded,

but books have just been stacked in haphazardly as they've been moved from other areas.

And, these are all things which need to have their usefulness re-visited.

Afterwards, the shelves are clean, John / Theresa have an additional 6 shelves for their use,

and 14 small bags are leaving for other homes . . .

Yesterday evening, as I was catching up on blogs I read,

there was a great post by Leo Babauta on his Zen Habits.

All his posts are insightful and inspiring, and this one was particularly apt

for my slow-but-steady simplifying (decluttering) of my things.

The title is "Decluttering as Zen Meditation".

It's excellent; you should read it.