Warning: Photos May Cause Dizziness

May 12, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

I like to play with photo prompts on Instagram

and this week one of those prompts was upside down.

Birds at Fountain Lake here in Richmond.

So I flipped this photo

and something about the birds flying into the bottom corner made my brain buzz

(and maybe made me feel a tad dizzy.)

Pipeline walk in downtown Richmond.

As much as I get a certain routine comfort in knowing I can plant myself on the couch in front of the TV at night,

eat the same salad,

make the same gluten-free chocolate chip cookie dough (oh the burden),

or walk the same pipeline,

crackling synapses can be pretty cool.

Virginia Beach Pier

And oh how I crackled (and snapped and popped) at the feedback I got from the story I’m working on now.

Let’s just say I had to remove a couple of “pier legs”.

But the structure is way better.

Thanks to a new perspective.

Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg National Military Park

Wishing you a Happy Tuesday!

And Happy National Odometer Day (thinking about this holiday oughta keep your brain fires stoked).

What’s got your brain firing and crackling?

A View From My Heart: Sunrise and Snow Cones

November 14, 2014 | Coleen Patrick

On a trip to Virginia Beach last December, I got up early and watched the sun rise.

I still think about how cool it was to sit on the dark beach and watch the sun peek above the horizon.

So when the hub and I went to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach last weekend

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

I realized I had the opportunity to see the sunrise at the beach again.

So I set my alarm, but when I woke up there was no yellow streaked sky. No fiery sun.

Just a whole lot of clouds.

And I was puzzled.

Sure I’ve seen lots of overcast days, but for some reason it didn’t occur to me that there could be clouds blocking the horizon at sunrise.

I don’t know why. Maybe because it was so spectacular last December, I couldn’t imagine it any other way.

But there it was, a hazy, muted sky.

It was just different. And for a moment, kind of empty without the sun all up in my face.

And as I stood there I started to identify with that bit of emptiness, that difference.

Some days it’s really strange to realize that in one year both of my kids left for school (the con of having 2 kids fifteen months apart), but then it’s not so strange, because while it’s oh so bittersweet to move on from that really great part of my life,

there’s still so much life as usual,

the work and the fun

and I’m learning a new routine, a new focus

and climbing mountains with my husband

My view from Humpback Rock in the Blue Ridge mountains

And finding my heart can be in more than one place

Fossil Beach at York River State Park

And planning visits to see our kids in NYC and Colonial Williamsburg

And getting to see things from their point of view

And tasting new and surprising things

Snow cone + soft serve = Sno To G0 (in Williamsburg, VA)

(and realizing that in some situations you can eat the yellow snow.)

But most of all, I’m seeing that a different sunrise, can still be a pretty awesome view.

A hazy, beautiful Virginia Beach morning

What view are you enjoying?

Happy Friday!

Gulls (and Boys) Just Want to Have Fun

January 6, 2014 | Coleen Patrick

Recently I challenged myself to try to catch some action shots with my phone’s camera.

Not much action here. Just some seagulls, hanging out.

Although, some gulls took a little time for reflecting.

Others stretched their wings–or showed off.

Can’t say for sure as I’m not really a gull expert.

BUT…

I do know that birds like bread.

They will crane necks to get bread.

They will swoop and fly.

They will get rowdy.

Not all though. Some will be cautious–maybe even a bit suspicious.

This gull probably has an agent.

So I moved on to other subjects.

Replaced the bread with a Frisbee.

And … action.

What challenges have you set up for yourself lately?

Happy Monday!!

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Playing Hooky: The Beach is not a Place to Work

May 13, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

I was NOT on vacation this week.

But I did go to the beach. I drove two hours to spend a few days with family to celebrate my sister’s graduation from nursing school.

She lives only ten minutes from the actual beach, so…I mean, I couldn’t NOT go.

So in terms of meeting my typical work quota last week. Didn’t happen.

I skimmed emails and stuff via my phone, but mostly I felt like I was out of the country.

And I’m so okay with that.

🙂

There was too much good stuff happening anyway. Experiences I am happy to fall a little behind at work for…

The Pinning Ceremony.

I couldn’t miss the only time my sister would wear white tights with white shoes.

My heart at the beach.

So I got a little behind at work. Totally worth it. Now, it’s like I’m sailing back on a salty sea air breeze.

Okay, so my mind may be a teensy bit too clear, but I’m going to take a cue from my four-year-old nephew, who one night, spent a really long time deconstructing and constructing a plain old brown box.

Creativity, you really can start anywhere.

Task number one—today I’m over at Kourtney Heintz’s blog, author of The Six Train to Wisconsin, talking a bit about my journey as an Indie author. I hope you can stop by! Bring cheese fries if you have ’em.

What people, places, or things are worth getting a little behind at work for to you?

Have a GREAT week!

Coleen xo