The Art of Simplicity is a Puzzle of Complexity October 9, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Ramblings.7 comments
I know it’s a little early for a Christmas story, but just come with me on this trip down memory lane. Every Christmas, someone in my family would invariably get a puzzle. It was usually my brother. And after all the presents had been torn open, thank you’s exchanged, and the blizzard of wrapping paper collected and hauled out to the trash, the puzzle box would get opened and the pieces dumped on the dining room table.
And so the dance would begin. While Grandma worked away on preparing our holiday feast in the kitchen, three or four of us would start flipping all the pieces over trying to sort out, and set aside, the edge pieces. Hands would start bumping in to each other and apologies would be exchanged.
Sometimes you’d get lucky and two or three pieces would already be assembled having snuck through the box-shaking machine at the puzzle factory. But the rest of the 4982 pieces would just be strewn about the table taunting us.
Sometimes two or three people would sit at the table while munching on Grandma’s infamous sugar and molasses cookies trying to stave off the hunger pangs induced by the incredible smells emanating from the kitchen. Grandma would occasionally glance out of the kitchen at the puzzle put-er-togethers and then return to whipping up mashed potatoes and monitoring the progress of the turkey and ham in the oven.
Throughout the day, Grandma would continue her peeks out of the kitchen. Sometimes she’d see a group huddled over the puzzle as the pieces started to fall together. Sometimes she’d find just a lone soul, head shifting back and forth from the dwindling pile of pieces to the incomplete, but taking shape, scene. Sometimes the table would be abandoned momentarily while moans and groans at a missed field goal could be heard around the television.
And although we all knew in the back of our minds that the puzzle would not be completed in time for the table to be set for dinner, no one protested when the pieces had originally been dumped on the table. As Mom stared the usual “We need some help setting the table” routine, we’d started searching about for a nice suitable piece of cardboard and began the delicate process of transferring our “work in progress” to be set aside for later.
After the dessert dishes had been cleared, the puzzle, now resting on its cardboard perch would return to the table and the dedicated would continue on with our mission while the not-so-dedicated found a quiet corner from which to nap. But, as if sensing the approach of something big, various and sundry relatives would awake from their slumber and begin circling the table looking for an empty chair. Grandma’s peeks out of the kitchen became more frequent.
The suspense was incredible. Hands and arms began flailing about. More apologies at accidental bumps. And then, the group groan could be heard by the few faithful sports fans in the living room. How could it be?
And without fail, Grandma would stroll out of the kitchen, reach in to the front pocket of her flour and gravy-stained apron, and pop in that last piece of the puzzle proclaiming her victory and our defeat.
And that’s when I’d always remember that each piece of the puzzle is equally important. And I guess I learned a little something about life—something that I try to remind myself of every day. I am but one piece of the puzzle and I don’t mean a hill of white beans unless I’m connected to all the other pieces.
Are You Lucky? August 29, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Ramblings.1 comment so far
I am a very lucky person. Not much else to say for tonight.
Being in the Right Place At the Right Time August 22, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Louisiana Wildlife, Photography, Ramblings.Tags: lightning, osprey, Photography, south Louisiana
6 comments
So yesterday as I was driving home, a fairly large storm system was headed our way. Now I just happened to be coming up on one of my favorite scenic panorama areas from which I take many photos so I decided to pull over at my usual spot. The sky was getting pretty electric and I wanted to see if I might be able to get at least one good shot of a lightning bolt. This is no small task I might add. I’ve tried a number of times before with no or very little success. In actuality, I’ve only managed two shots of lightning in my whole life–both on the same day and both not very good–and I’m fairly certain that I came close to risking my life for one of them which wasn’t too bright of me. But at least I had the pleasure of saying that I’ve got a couple of lightning shots in my portfolio.
So before the rain started flying I decided to crawl up in the bed of the pickup for a better vantage point. Now I do understand that that is probably not the best place to be when the lightning is flying, but the storm was still well off to the west and I didn’t feel that I was putting myself in any danger. So there I sat. Camera at the ready. Bolt. Click. Damn, too late. Another bolt. Click. Click. Shoot. Too late again. Wow. Huge burst of lightning. Click. Click. Click. Curses. This is impossible. Oh no. Do I feel sprinkles? Yep. Ok, well I’ll see if I can get anything from inside the truck.
Bolt. Bolt. Click. Click. Nothing! Ok, well, maybe I should just try to get some other interesting shots and make do with what I’ve got. Maybe every time I try taking pics during a storm it’s like I’m building up some reservoir of sub-conscious lightning knowledge. You know, like if I keep doing this enough, eventually I will just instinctively know where to point my camera for the next big strike. Yeah, I know that’s probably not possible. Lightning is unpredictable. I know that. But, maybe, just maybe. Some day when I’m old and gray. Oh wait, I am old and gray now aren’t I? Well, that’s not what I mean. You know what I mean.
Alright, time to get home. I’ll just work with what I have and chalk the rest up to a learning experience. I know I got some good shots earlier in the day of some cats in an old shed like this…
and this…
And I’m pretty sure I got an interesting pic of a water droplet on my window like this…
and I think I got a semi-decent shot of that bird. What is that? An osprey I think. I’m not positive though.
And then, there it was. In all it’s glory. Yeah, baby! Who said practice doesn’t pay off in the end?
What’s It All About? August 20, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Ramblings, Uncategorized.Tags: environment, meaning of life, philosophy
8 comments
So I’ve been feeling fairly philosophical lately. You know, just kind of thinking about life and what’s it all about. And since I’ve been kind of struggling with a case of writer’s block I was thinking that maybe the meaning of life would make a good blog posting. I’m not exactly sure what it is about this writer’s block thing. I mean it’s not as if I have felt completely uninspired or something. I’ve actually had a bunch of experiences lately that I wanted to share with you all, but every time I sit down at my computer to tell you about a marsh planting or a beach sweep or a trip to the state capitol or to let you know about the fun and exciting projects I’m working on like re-designing our volunteer program or hitting the road in my home on wheels for a nationwide environmental tour, my brain just shuts down on me and I find myself staring at a blank computer screen. And then my mind starts to wander and I end up someplace that I hadn’t expected to. Kind of like right now.
I mean, how did I get here? I sat down to write about the meaning of life and now I’m just rambling on and on about some inane dribble banging around in my head. I mean, I guess it’s better that I’m actually writing something. Right? Something is better than nothing, yes? Maybe not. Seriously, who wants to read a bunch of weird, stream of consciousness rants by someone like me. I guess it’d be different if I really had some interesting insights or something, but as you are sorely aware, I do not have anything close to some brillant words of wisdom to offer you. I mean, I thought I did. I had totally made the decision to sit here and write until I could share some wonderful revelation about the meaning of life with you and I haven’t really even said one thing about it.
I know I should just buckle down and stay focused on the task at hand. Maybe I need to make myself an outline. Yep, that’s probably the ticket. You can never go wrong with a good outline. Isn’t that what they always taught us in school? Think it threw before you write. You know, I’m always confused by the word “threw.” I mean, is it “think it through” or “think it threw” or “think it thru”. I’m pretty sure it’s not that last one. But I can never remember the difference between “threw” and “through”. Do you only use “threw” if it’s like “I threw the ball” or “a piece of debris came threw the windshield”? Reminder to self, I should go back and review my vocabulary notebook from middle school. Do I even have that anymore? I bet my mom has it somewhere squirreled away. Maybe I should call her. Geez, I haven’t call my mom in a while. I’m a bad daughter. Hold on a sec. I’ll be right back. I need to call my mom.
Ok, my mom says “hi!” to everyone.
Alright, where was I. Oh yes, the meaning of life. Here goes.
The Meaning of Life
by Diane Huhn
Ummmm…well…I guess, ahhhh…mmmm…
I think it’s a good idea to try to be nice to other people and try to do good things for others and always have a good topic sentence to work with.
The End.
Thank you for stopping by. Have a nice day! And remember…happiness is a warm sunny day at the beach. Hey do you remember those “Happiness is” posters they used to have in the 80s? They always seemed to have those pictures of kittens or puppies on them. They were just so adorable and you just wanted to eat them up. Well, not literally eat them up cause that would be really weird. And really gross. Shoot! I’m doing it again. Just say no to stream of consciousness writing. It’s never a good idea! And now I’m late for work. Well, not really late. But now I’ve only got like 15 minutes to get ready instead of 30. Darn it!
And the Sun Sets on Another Day August 18, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Photography, Ramblings.Tags: beer, boccee, Photography, sunset
5 comments
What’s up with these sunsets we’ve been having? Pretty darn cool! Don’t think I could give this up for boccee and beer. Well, maybe beer. But definitely not boccee.
More Fun With Picasa August 17, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Photography, Ramblings.Tags: Photography, picasa
4 comments
Ok, not sure why, but I really like these two pics. Kinda weird. I know. What can I say? I’m just dorky like that. Embrace your dorkiness!
Fun With Picasa August 17, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Photography, Ramblings, Travels.Tags: photo of the day, Photography, picasa
4 comments
So I haven’t posted anything in over three weeks and today I decide that I should have two posts in the same day? Yep, it’s a crazy mixed up world. How bout some fun with Picasa? I love Picasa. It’s so easy to play around and experiment with my photos. Like this…
and this…
and this…
and one more.
And maybe one more pic of a really happy dog at the beach.
So, maybe the photo of the day should make a reappearance? I guess we’ll see.
Ummm…Yeah. Kind of Figured It’d Been That Long. August 17, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Bayou Life, Ramblings.Tags: coastal protection, Coastal Restoration, marsh, marsh plants, Terrebonne
8 comments
Ummm…yeah. I kind of figured it had been about that long since my last post. And, no, I don’t really have a good excuse for leaving y’all hanging like that for so long. I mean, I’m sure a few of my five to seven readers have completely given up on me and who could blame them? Yeah, I’ve been doing a lot of stuff, and it’s been keeping me busy. Not necessarily out of trouble mind you, but busy nonetheless. I mean not too busy that I couldn’t have found some spare time to write about why that kid was sitting on top of the mound of dirt eating a Subway sandwich with mud-encrusted paws. I mean, it wouldn’t have taken that long to put the story together for y’all. But, I don’t know, the days just kind of went by, and my memories got a little less and less detailed about the event, and then it just seemed kind of too late to try to do it now. I mean, shoot, no-body’s probably even checked my blog in a week or so. Maybe my blog should just die a quiet death–fading off in to the sunset of the interwebs. I mean, really. Is anybody really going to miss it? Maybe for a month or two, but eventually no one will ever really remember it. I mean, maybe from time to time, someone will have a passing thought and say to themselves, “Hmmm…didn’t I read about that on Diane’s blog? Wait a minute, was that Diane that had that blog, or someone else? Damn, that’s funny, I can’t remember. Hmmm…weird. I mean I’m pretty sure it was Diane, but I just can’t say for sure. I don’t know. It will probably come to me later. Like at 3:00 am when I’m trying to sleep. And I’ll be like, “oh yeah, that’s it. It was Diane’s blog. Geez, I wonder whatever happened to her? Hmmm…I hope she’s alright. I should remember to check her blog tomorrow to she if she’s still around. Hmmm…I hope I remember to do that. Maybe I should go write myself a note to remind myself? Nah, I’ll remember. I’m almost asleep and if I get up now, I might not be able to fall asleep. Nah, I’ll remember. Ok, just go to sleep and do it in the morning.”
Ummm…geez, how did I get here? I was just going to tell you that I just really didn’t have a good excuse for not telling you about the kid sitting on the big mound of dirt eating his Subway sandwich with mud-encrusted hands and just kind of let you know that if you want to read about it, that you could click here to go to Bayou Woman’s blog to check it out cause she already wrote about it and did a really nice job I think and what’s the point in trying to write my own version? I mean it just kind of seems like a waste of time, you know? I mean I should just bite the bullet and write it for you if you’re still out there or maybe will come back one day looking for the story. I mean I shouldn’t leave you hanging like that. It’s not really fair of me. But I don’t know, I’m just not sure that it’s necessary. I mean, I know it seems like the easy way out to just give you this link to read about it on someone else’s blog, but it kind of makes practical sense. Doesn’t it? Plus, basically the only thing I’ve written in the past three weeks aside from some emails and articles for the upcoming newsletter is what I posted on this site this morning.
Ok, I’m over it. I don’t feel guilty. I just wasn’t in the mood. So, alright, here’s the link to BWs site. Go read about why the boy was sitting on that big mound of dirt eating his Subway sandwich with mud-encrusted hands and try your hand and a Butch and Ti-Du ending of your own.
Ok, well, I might be back soon. But I can’t make any promises about that. Thanks for stopping by and hopefully I’ll see y’all soon! Later gators!
Really? July 25, 2009
Posted by dianehuhn in Coastal Restoration, Ramblings, Travels.Tags: coastal protection, Coastal Restoration, marsh, ps 22 chorus
3 comments
Has it really been that long since my last post?
Diane + Vacation = Bad Blogger
Diane + Vacation/Record cool temperatures in Michigan = Very Bad Blogger
Diane + Vacation/Record cool temperatures in Michigan * Recovering from vacation = Tremendously Bad Blogger
OK, I promise that as soon as my brain is back in bayou mood I’m going to tell why this young man is sitting on this mound of dirt eating a Subway sandwhich with filthy, mud-encrusted hands…
but in the meantime, how bout getting down with my favorite kids from PS 22? Life is short my friends, so just let yourself go and dance! You know you want to!
