GREAT SHOT!


I can't confirm the fact of if this is a picture of a "real" person or not. I just stumbled upon it during my virtual travels this evening.


and yet--

I find myself unable to stop looking at the overall coolness of the total package. Balance/expression/color/and-personality-charged-moxy of this woman!

it's a...



great shot!!!

and...now that I think of it further...I'm pretty sure Leanne has got that EXACT same scarf in her personal archives. it's totally stylin'!!!

----


and I also can't stop watching this video clip from 60 minutes [well, besides the lame-O previews they are destined to tack on to this embedded viewing. but i couldn't find 60-min any OTHER WAY!!!]:

this captain is my hero. truly. in a world where negative news gets more attention than the positive. sometimes I have to watch the "good" stuff over and over again to bridge the gap.



and my favorite quote? yes, it takes a lot to get me to call out a "favorite"...but this man. is a hero and--it was MY own mental response to the first time hearing of the phrase of "I was sure I could do it!" where I heard, and put together the pieces of the fact that he MUST have put aside his own family and "self" to add balance to his default nature of humility and a "servants heart" with the sentiment of--"I AM the PILOT OF THIS PLANE"---followed immediately by "MY AIRCRAFT!!!". or else the plane/landing/miracle never would have made it to safety"

amazing. awe inspiring. THIS is the shock and awe element that people seek for but rarely find. unique in its total experience and impact on personal lives.

and I will continue to be amazed and further inspired for the rest of my days.

...further...note to SELF:
I want all the pilots that take my life in their own hands when our airplanes take off (when I next find my nerve to actually "fly") to pass the Sully level of competence.

very SMALL margin of error potential. so, we should really formalize this designation of sully-level focus under pressure.

it's not that "WE" as a society should always be preparing ourselves for the worst-case scenario---but we should be building our confidence in ourselves and our abilities--so that, if the situation should ever call for it---we WILL FIND a solution to an unexpected problem. that's just my humble general translation of the miracle maneuvers--that saved lives. on that day--landing in the Hudson.

application brings it all home. FAA/Lawyers/Couric team...take whatever safe measures you want to protect yourself from lawsuits. but even throughout it all. I still get the gist. and I'm still a believer.

the man has SKILLS.

-af  ¶ 9:36 PM 0 Comments

    ¶ 11:35 AM 0 Comments

  Momma Day-#1 for the solo flyer-afro...and...

photos to share for the fam

that say...

here's the first Mothers day for me--as the solo flyer

but LOOK

at how CUTE THEY WERE/ARE!!!!!

and then...note to self tonight...

dear afro "don't remember the attitude and "issues" they presented at bedtime for you" ...


because they are...and will remain...

gifts from above.

man. i'm a lucky mom.

for reals. forever. and for-always.

and with the gentle-ness and care, love and devotion with which they have always taken care of one another? (yes, even with the daily disgruntled mumbles of sisters throughout all the ages of time) they look...in this shot...like the sisters they are destined to be---and if I had a role in just getting them together...and HERE..so they could "be" with each other--???

for THAT...I am glad. and it's really all I need as the momma.

but "how" to tell them that THAT is all that I need? as their mom?

well, it could potentially take a few years.

good thing they're not 18 yet.

-af

oh---and with mommas day in may

here's a shot of one of my most favorite birthday darlings. [this is..."smile girls--it's your momma's bday when she's ok..well, however old she was in 2002-june. thankyou...melynda(!)"

and these cute little faces are forever engraved upon my heart---along with the awesome color and built in shelves possibilities ...yes, zook and suzP--this pic is totally for YOU...you came together. and worked for an end result...and TODAY, it's a FRAMED pic that I have above my desk to notate the girls, and the state of the "union" back then. thank you. thank you. and then. thank you again!. yes, it's a part---of my personal history. and I am ever so grateful for your efforts. -af



  ¶ 9:46 PM 0 Comments

  Wanna see a photo?


I really want to call out a date for this one:





who knew I was such a fan of the "candid" moments of family togetherness

i'm sure I'll be corrected--but for now...

consider it called at:

June-ish. 1993

setting for the photo:

J's "welcome home" return from the coolest center for study on the planet!!!--that i WILL see for my own self one day...

AND

our first meeting of the lovely first bonus sister-to-be...the one that would soon pair up with the A-man. (sorry, dude. couldn't think of a nickname other than the "first born son" that you always LOVED calling attention to when you wrote cards/notes to mom or dad..and really--how are the rest of the sibs supposed to compete in the same league as "FIRST BORN?!??!!")

Blog -style

THAT's how!!!!

flash of brilliance

and notice...from the photo above---here, in the moment in time...for ALL ladies present in the shot. yes...k-dog was probably off singing to a...spot on the carpet or her imaginary friend (just for you K); but we've got sar...and J... and ME...thrilled with our impending bonus sisterness...hood...that is to be forthcoming.

and sar's bangs are(were) AWESOME!

i know. she'd be hurt if I didn't at least give them a shout out.

facial expressions and the candid-ness...is what I'm going for today

as the lead in--to...bonus sisters and why they matter/make the difference/bring the color into the world of blood related sisters.

and J looks tan. and she can't comment to correct me--but i do believe it was the FIRST bang grow out of her teenage/adult years!!! I remember being proud and amazed!!! all at the same time...when she walked off the plane at SJC...horray for the return of the J!!!!and farewell to the bangs that used to take up half of her head--it was the 80's and really--bangs were tricky for us all. some STILL struggle daily with their application.

so really--with all she's got going on right now; [young children-my-heavens-to-hard work-required-ness!] here's a shot of her younger...and more tan...wiener-less adventures!

-af.  ¶ 8:41 PM 2 Comments

  celebration of LOVE-day?


step 1:
let the girls choose their own gifts during a required Saturday trip to Walmart to pick up little Miss E's backup glasses on the 14th of February...

(with afro approval and budget limitations, of course--it's not the money that I mind spending...cause I've got LOADS of it...really.

The inspiration for my latest idea comes from...overwhelming dislike of all the shopping, the deciding, the wrapping, the giving and the follow-up...that tends to bring out the...unsentimental side of the fro. yes. i'm a catch. i'm WELL aware of my contributing strengths. Now, moving on to the REAL gifts of love...)

step 2:

engage in 90 minutes of debate with girls over merits of what they "need" vs. what they "would like to have". I myself was holiding out for them needing new socks or allergy medicine...but we ended up with them wanting...what they wanted. oh all right...!!!

which brings us to...

step 3:

give "stuff" to girl at walmart and tell her to make it all fit in a valentines day balloon-cause holidays bring out 1$-worth of sentimentality in me...apparently...




step 4:

totally enjoy the look of amazement that overcomes the girls as they watch the high-tech-ness of the clear box that makes the balloons big enough to STUFF the goodies inside. really. they were totally amazed! and enthralled with the idea that their stuff "fit" inside a HUGE balloon!!! with a bow and everything!!!




step 5:

crown yourself "MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE!!!"

...

oh, and elisa has red hair now

...


but she ASKED for it

and how am i to deny the RED!!!




...really, the shade she ended up with is a a shade that I DREAM of having! she just got lucky. and it WAS a long weekend.

note to self....no more hair color on long weekends. it's a tricky bribe that takes its own sweet time to grow out.

our take away???---who says love can't be bought! E-Specially of the red-head variety.(english and journalism majors...esss-ssssspecially...is just for YOU!!!)

...

yes...i SWEAR "these" are the best shots I could get of the "red". but i'm thinking of getting myself an actual camera for my birthday. No, not code-speak...just---a realization that while my baby may have red-ish hair...her momma doesn't have a camera that produces clarity and color to match both my brilliant skills as a writer AND the world in which i live.

---

and...it was the flash of suzieP holding a box in front of her newly found red-head that ultimately got the little miss Elisa her v-day wish. cause suzie "tested" it in advance...and i love that it ended up being my deciding factor. (solo-flyers get to credit where ever they want) and it was SuzieP--living through the "red" and then our finding her way to our future and unintended influence of---celebrating the red! ....who knew (!) bringing us to our very own version of 2009---CELEBRATION of LOVE-day!!!
---


man. i love my kids.

-af  ¶ 9:35 PM 0 Comments

  Feb 10, 2002


Feb 10th-is one of those days...

one of those self-appointed "holidays" where a "personal day of observance" is called for (afro-specific).

yes--challenge further extended to find your own version of "holidays" for what are the most meaningful days of marking the passage of time and remembrance for you--and your own...birthdays, anniversaries and the like--too easy...important..but predictably easy--just find the day(s) that are yours and yours alone. it took me "7" years to write about this one--so no need to rush the publication of such a date for whatever you may determine that's worth the celebrating...

but here, on af and the girls... it's also a conflict of interest in my desire to protect the girls and remember the afro-holidays ---*sigh* ---to protect those girls of mine that are such gifts from above...

where every morning I wake up; is another day I get to ponder the presence of such gifts in my life:

and....

I think

(about the past; and the girls....and their impending future opportunities)

I plan

(for the day...the week...the month...our lives)

I pray

(for all of it; a deep...continuous prayer in my heart--for our continued safety and well-being here on our journey together)

and I wonder--at the miracle of love that mothers feel for their own children.

I wonder --at the depth of feeling that I "feel" for my offspring; and for the curiosity I feel whenever I see something..."new" that they are reasoning through on their own...

and overall...I wonder just about "them".

I AM lucky indeed--to be close enough to see, to witness, and to be--"the GREATEST MOM EVER!!!!"

uh...the "the greatest mom ever??!!??!" designation is from the girls themselves...at which; when they verbalize this "title" outloud brings an immediate response from the afro of: "what do you WANT.....???" and..." what's your angle girls?" as I wait to hear the "catch" for such a proclamation of hope, love and skill...on a "mom" level that I am certain I have yet to master.

but then...

smiles are exchanges between those girls and I...

eye contact is met...and emotions of the heart are relayed between us two...(or three...depending on the "gang-up" factor in play...)

and I say---loud enough for all of us to hear and hopefully--internalize....

"i don't WANT to be the greatest mom ever!!!...i WANT to be the best mom for amy and elisa...and I want to be the "best mom for MY girls!!!...and TO my girls!!!"...and each day--THIS is the job that i am most concerned with doing to the best of my ability."

internal afro-dialogue: "i don't do it perfectly--but each, and every single day--I awake--and renew again, my desire--to move forward, or try again, try something better---or try something else--for whatever will "help" these two little gifts of mine."

they may see a bonus of a mom in me

but me?

I see their own future in their eyes, the possibilities and the dreams for their own life adventures; and further--as their mom, I feel the weight of responsibility and future accountability for the gifts that I am privileged to have influence on to give the very best of myself---to help their own future "selves" be realized...

and maybe...for whatever time I have available to BE with them? I will chose to do the very best that I am capable of; if I identify an area for improvement, I move towards ideas for improvement, and try not to waste time on the fantasy notion of--wouldn't it all just be better if we lived on a beach somewhere?

with a chef?

and a nanny?

and a maid?

and...a segway?

and ...a million dollars?

and so forth...


just cause...if you can't imagine the possibilities---how on earth--do you deal with the reality that is--Feb10th?...every single...year.

all is good. and thinking about the girls ALWAYS brings the smile to my heart. no matter the time of day...

uh--and I actually "do" have a scanned copy of a journal entry that I wrote on Feb10th, 2002--but--THIS posting...is devoted to the girls.

and such is my life. Devoted to the girls. So therefore and thus-ly...the afro that wrote that journal entry way back in 2002--and had no IDEA...the future happiness that was to be hers--of how it would feel to live with 7 more years of such precious gifts from above??? this is HER post...to remember the gifts that continue to be hers. for they will always be distinguished as such--gifts!





excellent transition and alterance (?word?) of focus. no??!??!! indeed...and--Let the good times roll!!!my goodness---THOSE are precious looking gifts-indeed! what else is there....

honestly.


-af  ¶ 10:47 PM 0 Comments

  Blood-Related Sisters

ever wonder if you really share the same blood as your sister?

embark on the following (thinking out loud conversation):

oh--and time travel back to 1993 ; yes, i swear it's better for all involved if THAT is where the mindset is for this thinking out loud episode.yes. i promise.--

Dialogue commences:

sis: "why do you always wear that lame baseball hat backwards??? it's totally unflattering on you....I just don't get why you wear it??!??"

(note to reading audience...NO, these were not her actual words--but just putting up photos without any "background info " really doesn't do the snapshot experience that has been forever treasured any justice, now does it??? work with me people....i get licenses or something as a writer. poetic-ness ability is ringing a bell....and me, being the writer that i am will take FULL advantage of licenses.....anywaysssss...j, just for you....)

afro: "sis, I understand your query overall....however,...if I am going to have a chance at explaining WHY I wear this awesome hat that I do, then YOU are going to have to take a shot at enlightening ME about your yellow corduroy vest! I just don't "get" it. It's not that it doesn't look fabo on you(really, she looked very put together), cause it does and it really is in style-in 1993/circa eddie bauer etc...but WHY do you choose to wear it??!?"

(insert duel-audible sigh here...both parties...struggle to reach common ground...sisters for all of their lives....choosing to give "voice" to the ponder of sisters everywhere and throughout ALL ages of time in ..."WHY are you wearing that outside the house???? PLEASE!!! HELP me understand!!!!......but she's my SISTER...aren't we supposed to be....similar in our tastes overall?")

{subtle subtext?...man...i would NEVER wear that outside in public...where people might SEE ME!!!-...it WAS 1993, and a difficult time for fashion...as translated through 2009 fashion lenses}

sis: "uh--af...I could probably go right now into your closet and put on YOUR most favorite clothes in 5 seconds flat. it's not like VARIETY is on your agenda at this time in your life"


afro (thinks to herself): man...she has NO idea what I like to wear... how would she even know? if she's going to pick out a yellow vest to wear that is totally preppy...

(side note to reading audience: yes, actually--i did have a "look" going on and I rarely varied from that "look", much to the dismay of my mom and dad...and i have about ten different pictures of me wearing the version of what the younger sis came up with ...in our challenge-extended; she KNEW--easily, she knew what she was referring to in making the above statement about my clothes )

afro: "you're ON!!! I totally challenge you to a clothing duel. ....challenge extended"


and since I was raised with SO MANY siblings close in age, this was a good way to pass an evening

(read: sometimes mom and dad TOTALLY made us turn off the TV and we had to INTERACT with each other to pass the time, or do homework or go to bed....so, this clothing challenge is a fair example of leaving us up to "our own devices" to pass the time)

sis: "all right then...let's get real!!!"

sar was /is always up for a little challenge or two--it's what makes it fun to be around her.

afro[verbalizing the rules as they come into to her brain]:

"ok, well--let's see; we're both a sittin' and a chattin' in the EC room now...so...when I say "GO" we both run down the hall to each others rooms and then we have 2 minutes to pick out/find the outfit the other sister would MOST LIKELY wear on any given day..."

[it's like--the marketing version of "branding" of the individual...if you had to match the person with what you think they would pick as a default outfit--well, matching this to clothing theory was what we were going for]

sis: "bring it on sister...BRING...IT...ON!!!!!...."

two redheads in a room...look out folks...

sis-age 15ish
afro-age 18ish

face to face....eyes...focused on the challenge...

and ...WE'RE OFF!!!!!!

2 min. later? we both got back down the hallway to the EC room to see this! :

[well, we looked at each other...blankly...thinking...WAIT..is that a mirror? those are MY clothes!!!!! she is totally busted for wearing my clothes without asking...i'm gonna tell mom...wait...]

we just continued to stare at each other

we couldn't believe the evidence of our discussion previous to our "challenge extended"

and further, that we each KNEW what the other would wear....

we were just surprised to see someone else looking EXACTLY like WE did...in our default outfits no less....

and then, after the shock passed; we smiled at whoever had the camera--i'm guessing it was Gram Leanne...but K-dog might have been up past her bedtime too. it's hard to sleep in such a rowdy household...

[picture taken, to document the challenge/event]

and then...

we each got "itchy" in the other persons' clothing

and so....

back down the hallway we went together--no challenge in sight...

just a "get me to my comfort clothes and be quick about it" plea sent to the clothing heavens above

we probably just cut through the middle man and chose one of our bedrooms---and then swapped these little beauties back to their original owners. *Big Sigh of relief* as we walked together back down the hallway together again for the documentation of:







sure Gram Leanne may have taken the picture to document, but I guarantee you she was thinking in her mind..."wonder how I can get afro to dress a little more like a lady and follow the example of her younger sis...(I sat through the discussions about "being a lady" people--i KNOW of what I speak)"

enter 2009:

sar still has double the style ability of afro--easily. she wears color without fear and can converse in a room with anyone at the blink of an eye. (BOTH qualities I admire and strive to cultivate...sadly...I'm still lacking...but--I learn from my little sister--that it's not TOO scary to "talk" to people...sort of)

and sar brings color into the lives of all that know her. i sit back and watch...and enjoy the journey. and answer the questions as honestly as I can; when the girls ask "when do we get to see auntie sar again? " I look in their eyes and reply...."soon, girls...we'll see her soon...but we feel her inspiration...now."







and sar? no one but blood related sisters would have the exact same "tennis shoe" stance in the above two pictures that you and I did. we "mirrored" each other without forethought or planning---THAT is gene's a-talkin' my sister! and it's what I noticed as I scanned and cropped the pics for "public" enjoyment tonight.

Blood-related sisters are a gift beyond measure. and its the relationship that builds over a lifetime of continued fashion disscussions(among so many others). and that bond is also why tears formed in my eyes at the exact moment that I found out that Amy would have a baby sister that was scheduled to arrive within 20 months of her own birthday. Because sisters you're raised with---are--a gift that you continue to "get" for all the rest of your life. you can thank the parents as much as you want for giving you a sister, but it's the "sisters" that do the every day work of making sure you're taken care of and acknowledged as a sister.

you ARE my sister. blood related :-) sisters--forever. you can't shake me. I won't dress like you, but will continue to watch, enjoy, learn and cheer on--for my Sar! keep up the great work!

-af

and for my very own afr0-designated bonus sisters? I actually DO have a "working" entry for a blog posting in the very near future about how bonus sisters are also a gift--they just get to bring to the table a different type of fulfilment to the family mix. [bonus cousin-in-laws too you say? never fear...totally included in this is my style guru ms. Am. H. :-) ]

  ¶ 8:54 PM 4 Comments

  Horray for Tay!

(just thought the timing was right for a virtual shout out and pat on the head...good job big brother, keep up the great work!)

I know you've got a great support team there in your very household headed up by the lovely and ever-capable (and my very own bonus-sister) SuzieP, but thought I'd go for the visual of how long I've been around to offer my own afro-brand of support.

cheers,

-af

{update Feb 3rd, 8:37pm}

editors/authors note: for any lurking g-fam readers out there in virtual land...tay and sarah and family are doing very well last I heard.

This entry was posted to offer support for a family with four children as they make the "move" transition into a new abode. which, for me--with only TWO children...always has taken at least 6 months to settle everything down in a new location. or remember where it is and in which box...... and even then...it's really only "settled" during a visit from Gram Leanne.


My apologies in advance to Tay and the Mrs. if they received any speed dialers to their mobiles today with questions or concern over the fam's well being...

this post this was not a coded message. afro has trouble even being very "specific" in my messages...

and i thought i was making SUCH progress in that "being more specific area"...*sigh*

am I the only family member that still has an original of Tay's first business card? BEFORE COMPUTERS were mainstream design tools for the templated masses?---he amazed us all with smiles the clown. Tay is one of them persevering types, no matter the weather on the life's horizon. I think it's a middle kid thing.

[yes, even weather patterns that threaten in chicken little land; wear your hard hats tomorrow people--you know who you are....the sky's potentially falling down around you..any MOMENT!!!.......]

oh come ON...i get a phone call like THAT on the same day i post this seemingly innocent update and I can't have a little fun with my editing of the original post? pppaahhllleeeeaaaasssseeee.

which brings to mind a quote from one of my favorite movies; "ok Jack, just remember--you brought this on yourself"

ok. that's enough of an update for now. on with the business of finishing up the work that didn't get done before the work I still have left to do.

Carry on people-

-af  ¶ 12:01 PM 2 Comments