What is the definition of an inconvenience?
I've just spent the last 5 days in Los Angeles. An area that, the night before I flew in, was ravaged by hurricane-force winds. Over 3000 trees down, power disconnected for thousands of people. No major injuries reported, not many homes or properties with catastrophic damage.
For the last 5 days I have heard nothing but complaints around me. People griping that their power wasn't turned on. That the street lights weren't working so it made their commutes longer. Streets were blocked by road crews trying their best to clean up and make the streets safer, but it was an inconvenience to those trying to drive through... and so they complained. Just this morning I overheard someone complaining that the street sweepers hadn't cleaned up the branch and leaf debris. I also read in the LA Times of a gentleman who went to a city council meeting the other night to complain that his power was still off. Really? Because your power was off for a few days? And you still had a roof over your head, a car to travel in, restaurants to eat at, and you and your family are healthy and all accounted for. And yet you complain.
Now, I'm not saying that the powers-that-be couldn't have been more effective in trying to get information out to the communities. Certainly they could have. And I'm sure this is serving as a good lesson for the city officials on how to handle an emergency situation.
But lets look at this from the proper perspective.
The lows in LA at night, while chilly by LA standards, are still only in the 30s-40s. Blankets work. You aren't covered in snow and ice, like people are so often in other parts of the country where being without power truly is a life and death situation.
The skies were clear and the sun shining. Temps during the day were in the 50s. Gorgeous! The only mess to clean up were tree branches. You don't have the water from a hurricane, ice and snow to dig yourselves out of as they do back east, or homes ripped off their foundations like in a tornado.
You have food. You aren't starving. You have shelter. You have family and friends. You are safe. You will survive.
True disasters happen every day. Life changing events that literally, change. your. life. Forever.
That, my friends... is life changing. Life altering. Not being without power for 5 days? Having to leave a few minutes earlier to get to your destination? Not so much. Not when you are otherwise healthy and whole.
eally, is it even an inconvenience?
It's all in your perspective.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Grandma Got Run Over by the Hodgepodge
I'm leaving on a jet plane... yep, for the last 5 days I've been in LA helping my parents move (more on that later) and today I fly home, back to my kiddos and my amazing husband and the freezing cold... brrr.... but more importantly, today is my eldest C's 14th birthday! Happy birthday kiddo! I'll see you in a few hours!
On to the Hodgepodge!
1. Will you be hosting any house guests between now and the end of December? Does that thought make you happy or crazy? Do you do anything special for your guests to make them feel at home? How long should a house guest stay?
This year is pretty low key for us, which will be nice after such a crazy year. No visitors, no major traveling, probably just a few days down in Salt Lake City for New Years. And while we will miss not being with our family, having kids always makes the holidays fun!
When guests come to stay, I always have a basket in their room with fresh rolled towels, hand soaps, and chocolate for them.
A house guest should not stay any longer than 5 days if possible.
2. Walter Elias Disney was born this week (December 5) back in 1905 ...what's your all time favorite Disney movie?
Oh gosh, there are so many! I love the movie "Up" - any cartoon movie that can make me cry and laugh every time I see it is a winner in my book! I also love the music in both "Enchanted" and in "Tangled"
3. What was the last thing you purchased that you realized was a mistake after the fact?
hahaha - yesterday I went to Home Depot for my dad to buy new electrical outlets for their new house and I bought the wrong kind. Sheesh.
4. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?
Almost all of it - the crowds, craziness, and over-commercialization of the main stores drive me crazy. Amazon is my friend.
5. Amaryllis-snowdrop-poinsettia...your favorite winter blossom?
Poinsettia! I love the way they look against the snow and the greenery!
6. What is one thing on your personal Christmas wish list? I think we all want peace on earth so let's make this answer an actual item.
I would love the new iPhone 4S, but I don't think that's going to happen... so I'll say the Pioneer Woman's Cookbook - I love her recipes, her photos, and her descriptions!
7. If you could only use one word today what would it be?
LOVE!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
For the last 5 days I have been in Los Angeles helping my 70-year-old parents move from their house of 40 years into a much smaller place. It has been an adventure of sorts. Moving from 2400 sqft to 1300 sqft. Oy.
As my brother and I sorted through their boxes and such, we couldn't help but laugh and shake our heads... a lot... and so yesterday I wrote this little "ode to my parents" for them. Enjoy!
On the first day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
A little house in Duarte
On the second day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the third day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the fourth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Four cleaning mops,
Three ugly lamps,
Two vacuum cleaners,
and a little house in Duarte
On the fifth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the sixth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the seventh day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the eighth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the ninth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the tenth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Ten boxes of Christmas lights
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Eleven different bath towels
Ten boxes of Christmas lights
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Twelve assorted razors
Eleven different bath towels
Ten boxes of Christmas lights
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On to the Hodgepodge!
1. Will you be hosting any house guests between now and the end of December? Does that thought make you happy or crazy? Do you do anything special for your guests to make them feel at home? How long should a house guest stay?
This year is pretty low key for us, which will be nice after such a crazy year. No visitors, no major traveling, probably just a few days down in Salt Lake City for New Years. And while we will miss not being with our family, having kids always makes the holidays fun!
When guests come to stay, I always have a basket in their room with fresh rolled towels, hand soaps, and chocolate for them.
A house guest should not stay any longer than 5 days if possible.
2. Walter Elias Disney was born this week (December 5) back in 1905 ...what's your all time favorite Disney movie?
Oh gosh, there are so many! I love the movie "Up" - any cartoon movie that can make me cry and laugh every time I see it is a winner in my book! I also love the music in both "Enchanted" and in "Tangled"
3. What was the last thing you purchased that you realized was a mistake after the fact?
hahaha - yesterday I went to Home Depot for my dad to buy new electrical outlets for their new house and I bought the wrong kind. Sheesh.
4. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?
Almost all of it - the crowds, craziness, and over-commercialization of the main stores drive me crazy. Amazon is my friend.
5. Amaryllis-snowdrop-poinsettia...your favorite winter blossom?
Poinsettia! I love the way they look against the snow and the greenery!
6. What is one thing on your personal Christmas wish list? I think we all want peace on earth so let's make this answer an actual item.
I would love the new iPhone 4S, but I don't think that's going to happen... so I'll say the Pioneer Woman's Cookbook - I love her recipes, her photos, and her descriptions!
7. If you could only use one word today what would it be?
LOVE!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
For the last 5 days I have been in Los Angeles helping my 70-year-old parents move from their house of 40 years into a much smaller place. It has been an adventure of sorts. Moving from 2400 sqft to 1300 sqft. Oy.
As my brother and I sorted through their boxes and such, we couldn't help but laugh and shake our heads... a lot... and so yesterday I wrote this little "ode to my parents" for them. Enjoy!
On the first day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
A little house in Duarte
On the second day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the third day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the fourth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Four cleaning mops,
Three ugly lamps,
Two vacuum cleaners,
and a little house in Duarte
On the fifth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the sixth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the seventh day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the eighth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the ninth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the tenth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Ten boxes of Christmas lights
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Eleven different bath towels
Ten boxes of Christmas lights
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my parents gave to me
Twelve assorted razors
Eleven different bath towels
Ten boxes of Christmas lights
Nine fake flowering plants
Eight boxes of random tools
Seven lonely yard sticks
Six too many chairs
Five garden hose reels!
Four cleaning mops
Three ugly lamps
Two vacuum cleaners
and a little house in Duarte
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