Changes in Connection

All I got in my email today were advertisements.  I think it is a comment on where I am at socially.  I remember when I was sad when I came back from Japan when the letters stopped coming.  When I was in Japan, people wrote letters to me.  Don't get me wrong, I got my share of advertisements there too.  And then there was email.  And everyone emailed.  "What is your email address?"  And then when Facebook came into being, it seemed I got more and more jokes and less and less actual emails.  And now pretty much all I get are advertisements.  And speaking of Facebook...you know when you "Like" something, you start getting all the updates from that.  And then I found that I was getting more updates than I was getting updates on my friends' lives.  The hardest ones were when I was getting notes like this, "This dog has three more hours of life.  Please save him!" signed Mary Lou from Northern Podunk Somewhere I Have No Idea Where It Is.  First of all, I can take no more dogs in and second of all I have two dogs to take care of as it is.  Not to mention the dogs in the neighborhood who I try to take care of as well.  And now I find that fewer and fewer people actually update on Facebook.  So there is less information and more advertisements.  And then I heard yesterday that there is now another site called Google+.  The idea of starting all over sounds...enticing. 

It is an interesting world we live in.  I talked to my Dad yesterday about some of this.  He doesn't like Facebook.  He said he gets tired of so much information.  But he still watches the news on TV and THAT makes me tired...ok, exhausted.  But Dad misses when people would take the time to update him on their lives by email...or even by the telephone.  It seems to me that we have so much information available that the information of connection seems to get lost.  And for me I will go one step further.  I get so much information, email, telephone calls, chats in the hall, that I am exhausted and cannot reach out to the people who really matter.  This is a deep thought for my Saturday morning.  :-)

Having said this, I am thinking a lot about connection this morning.  My sis is vacationing here for a couple weeks.  It is so awesome to have her.  Sometimes I think she thinks she is a bother, but that is SO far from the truth.  (Although I have been very busy with work lately and have not been the best hostess.) But I grew up in a household where there was always someone around and I would go back there in a minute.  Just a chat here or a walk there...what is better than that?  And last night another of our sisters came to visit.  It turned into dinner, a little walk and a good after dinner chat.  They even said no to desert because they had their fill of yummy (and healthy) food for dinner.  I loved that.  But the biggest piece is that I was reminded that I love "the Craic" as my husband would say. (Definition from the Urban Dictionary site below.)   I love the connection.  It doesn't matter if it is coupled with drink.  Good food helps though.  People are always more relaxed when their stomachs are full of good (and I would add healthy) food.  I need more Craic in my life with people who are trustworthy. 

The chicken-girls are getting big!  Around their eyes are getting reddish.  I need to take more pictures of them, as I am amazed at the change...really the transformation in them since we got them.  They are beautiful and each has her own personality.  Some come to visit when I come around, some run away.  They love being outside and especially when they get new ground to scratch.  I have had a few lettuce plants bolt and they have done a great job of cleaning them up. 

The garden is beautiful.  It is just like what I think it should look like.

I talked a lot about juicing last night, so I think I will juice today.  Tim had his lap band filled yesterday so he is on full liquids until tomorrow anyway.  Gotta make sure that he gets his veggies and fruits too! 

So...enough of my rambling today.  I hope that you and yours are well.  And I hope that you have something fun planned for the weekend.  I have so many projects in my head that I don't really know where to start! 

Craic

Irish word for fun/enjoyment that has been brought into the English language. usu. when mixed with alcohol and/or music. 'Bhi craic agus ceol againn' : We had fun and music. Fun doesn't really cut it though. General banter, good times had by all. Also, a person who is good fun/great company. It was great craic. She's great craic when she gets going. He's great craic when he has a few pints on him. What's the craic? How's the craic? The craic was mighty. )