Author Archives: beth

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About beth

Ann Arbor-ite writes about enjoying life with all of its ironies and surprises.

smile jar.

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when dropping my car off at the dealer today

I asked about a ‘smile jar’

sitting behind the friendly customer service guy

he told me it’s kind of like a reverse swear jar

 every time someone sees him smile

 a co-worker drops $$ in his jar.

it seemed to be working

I like it. 

 

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“show me a smile, and I’ll show you one back.”

-vanilla ice

 

 

 

 

 

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image credit: pinterest

neighbors.

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the neighbors stopped by to check us out

“when strangers start acting like neighbors… communities are reinvigorated.”

-ralph nader

dads.

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image credit: National Geographic

shark!!!

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not sure how it all went down

but there was just half of a shark

left behind at a local pizza joint

there must have been one battle royale

and I wonder what happened to the other guy.

 

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“we should be afraid of sharks half as much as sharks should be afraid of us.”

-peter benchley, author – jaws

immune system surrenders without notice.

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now that school is out

and i’m away from my classroom filled with littles

for some reason

my immune system has taken it upon itself

to also go on break, relax, and let down its guard

 welcoming in a variety of ailments all at once

the good doctors have well-armed me with reinforcements

 only a matter of time and rest before I win the battle once more

onward.

(I said from my bed wrapped in my sherpa blanket)

 

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“i’m in a quandary. if I wash my hands before i eat fries, it’s healthy, right? but if i don’t wash my hands, I’m slowly building up my immune system. what to do, what to do…” 

― Foster Kinn, author – Freedom’s Rush II: More Tales from the Biker and the Beast

 

storybook trail.

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such a wonderful discovery made

when walking in a park near my daughter’s house

an illustrated storybook trail

with pages spread throughout the woods

placed there by the village and the local library

a perfect pairing.

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“we tell stories in order to feel at home in the universe.”
— Roger Bingham, British science communicator, writer, public television producer and host

when on a break from your break.

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a true believer in the idea

that it is always important to take a break from your summer break job.

 

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“there is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. 

use both and overlook neither.”

-alan cohen

dance.

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 a great day spent watching the grandies and a few friends get their dance on.

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“you live as long as you dance.”

-rudolf nureyev

goats.

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goats from twin willow ranch  have arrived at gallup park! ten goats in all will be busy over the course of three weeks “goatscaping,” removing brush from the park’s two islands. the islands are normally accessible via foot bridge; but during the three-week goat initiative, june 6–June 27, the islands, and bridges, will be closed.

goatscaping is an old-fashioned, eco-friendly and entertaining form of brush control. goats like to eat invasive plants like honeysuckle and buckthorn; poison ivy (to which goats are not allergic as some humans are); and pretty much any green plant within reach. this pilot project is part of an ongoing effort to clear out the overgrowth and invasive shrubbery as park staff work toward a long-term maintenance plan.

the goat initiative has an interactive component as well, for those curious about this work. GIVE 365 will be hosting three goat talk and walk tours in conjunction with volunteer work days. how to participate in a tour, for more information about this initiative, including goat photos and their bios, and more is available at http://www.a2gov.org/goats-at-gallup.

“ideas are easy.

it’s the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.”

-sue grafton

 

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source: ann arbor parks and recreation, mlive, ann arbor townies