My happy birthday!

This has been one of the best birthday weeks I have ever had, especially in the lines of all of the stuff I got! Oh, I know it is not the best virtue, but I like presents! I dont by any means expect them, I just love them when I get them. Especially when they are special, which all of this year's were!

My dad sent me one of the paintings he recently made. My mom sent me this really cute bag for my laptop, and it has so many pockets. I got a nice smelling bar of soap(is this a hint?) and a handmaid wash cloth, a shirt with a picture drawn on it in sharpie, a very geometric tank top, a stack of cds, a little calender, cupcakes, a tallboy, biscuits, a bottle of champagne, a wonderful card, and a stack of sea glass, a viewing of a bad movie with some kind of special dinner(i think this is coming sunday) I think i am forgetting something, i dont mean to.

In addition to presents this week has been pretty amazing. It started off with the MLK parade here in Biloxi, then we got a new president, one that i am very proud of, then thursday night we had a siminar, which was great.

Last night my friends got to gether to sit around a fire. There were folks playing the guitar, and singing and playing the harmonica, and people made me cupcakes, and there were smores, and there was beer. it was really nice. There were so many people there. The cops even came, partially because of the noise, and probably more so because of the guy passed out on the sidewalk in front of my friends' house. It was a full night.

Tonight we are going to celebrate my friend Jeremy's birthday. I am really looking forward to it.

Well that is about it.

Ginger Cookies and time with Friends

I have had a series of very productive days at work recently, which always makes me feel really good. Yesterday, I finished a review of a project in the area, and had a super wonderful meeting about our work in Moss Point in the near future. That meeting ran a little late, and I was looking forward to being a home body, but Nadene stopped me, and reminded me that earlier in the day, I had wanted to go over to her house and make these beautiful ginger cookies i had seen on one of my new favorite recipe sites.

So, I sucked it up (i love to bake so it wasnt that difficult)

I gathered all of the ingredients and headed over to her house.
We had a night of fun, i was cooking, and everyone was around talking. What a pleasant scene.
And we ate most of the cookies as they were coming out of the oven.

anyways that was last night.

Ethics, Morals, Values

Definitions from Dictionaries:

Ethics

1. a system of moral principles: the ethics of a culture.

2. the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics.

3. moral principles, as of an individual: His ethics forbade betrayal of a confidence.

4. that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

5. A set of principles of right conduct.

6. A theory or a system of moral values

7. The study of the general nature of morals and of the specific moral choices to be made by a person; moral philosophy.

8. The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession: medical ethics.

9. motivation based on ideas of right and wrong [syn: ethical motive]

10. the philosophical study of moral values and rules

11. The science of human duty; the body of rules of duty drawn from this science; a particular system of principles and rules concerting duty, whether true or false; rules of practice in respect to a single class of human actions; as, political or social ethics; medical ethics.

1602, "the science of morals," pl. of M.E. ethik "study of morals" (1387), from O.Fr. ethique, from L.L. ethica, from Gk. ethike philosophia "moral philosophy," fem. of ethikos "ethical," from ethos "moral character," related to ethos "custom" (see ethos). The word also traces to Ta Ethika, title of Aristotle's work. Ethic "a person's moral principles," attested from 1651.

Morals

1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes.

2. expressing or conveying truths or counsel as to right conduct, as a speaker or a literary work; moralizing: a moral novel.

3. founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom: moral obligations.

4. capable of conforming to the rules of right conduct: a moral being.

5. conforming to the rules of right conduct (opposed to immoral ): a moral man.

6. virtuous in sexual matters; chaste.

7. of, pertaining to, or acting on the mind, feelings, will, or character: moral support.

8. resting upon convincing grounds of probability; virtual: a moral certainty.

9. the moral teaching or practical lesson contained in a fable, tale, experience, etc.

10. the embodiment or type of something.

11. morals, principles or habits with respect to right or wrong conduct.

Values

1. Sociology. the ideals, customs, institutions, etc., of a society toward which the people of the group have an affective regard. These values may be positive, as cleanliness, freedom, or education, or negative, as cruelty, crime, or blasphemy.

2. Ethics. any object or quality desirable as a means or as an end in itself.

3. beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment

Oh... another night of friends.

Well, I had yet another evening spent with friends. I went to a friend's house and ate this chicken lime soup. oh goodness it was good.

I had a funny day at work but I cannot talk about it because it isnt so much public... but you should know it was real funny.

The real reason I am writing this is because I wanted to say the thing that most surprised me today. I realize that this habit that I am trying to develop is starting to become pretty personal, and usually involving people around me. I hope this is ok. I am trying to really appreciate other peoples actions. Not that I dont appreciate them now, but I guess I am trying to see more of the actions that happen around me.

Today, a Man(i am protecting that identity) that our office is working with was given a bunch of advice on how to do his job better, and not in the friendliest way. The advise was pretty straight forward, and at times a bit overwelming. The Man, he thought about what was being told to him. He realised that this advise he was getting, although a bit strong in delivery, was correct. He immediatly reacted to that fact. That is a sign of a person that belongs in a position of leadership. He listened to the message and not the way it was delivered. I would also like to say that the delivery was not overly offiencive, it was just very forward. that was the moment that today I really appreciated the most.

Wake Me Up.... Before you GO GO!

So, its late. My dog is already in bed. Way past my bed time. It is 11:27 pm. Goodness. I had better whip something out quick.

First I would like to apologize to my friend Vince from Virginia. I did not mean to lump you into two states(although if it were four, it would be a tourist attraction). I honestly put that in there because for some reason, I could not remember if you were from Virginia or West Virginia. I deeply apologize.

Anyway. Today was such a good day.

The morning started out with my normal walk with Deloris, and listening to an exceptionally funny podcast from the Moth, and those 30 minutes on the track were the funniest of the day. The story was by Adam Wade and was called Development. look it up! I was laughing while walking around this track, in circles. I must have looked a little crazy, but it was a funny story.

Then I got to work, answered some emails, started doing this evaluation of this development, read an article about the suburban blight, and what to do with it, worked on a lease agreement, went to the bay, went to the country, got back in the office, finished this evaluation, worked on the lease a little more, and headed home to change in to my swim suit.

It was a busy work day, but I really got a lot done.

I got home, and went swimming. Oh, I swam hard today. I have just recently started going back to the Natatorium (also not a new years resolution) and that place is so good. I always leave there feeling so relaxed and tired and energized all at the same time. it is a great feeling. If I can just get over my flailing when I do the free style it will all be good. One day... i will get there.

I met my friend Britton for some Pho and Bun, and had a few drinks, and here I am, at home writing my blog when i should be sleeping, but i have this new found sense of purpose and feel the need to write this darned thing when i should be curled up cozy in my comfy bed!

Before I sign off, I have a few things that made my day wonderful or that surprised me:
1) I heard the Wham song Wake me up be fore you go go, which was my favorite song when i was in preschool, and was on my first tape that i used to listen to on my Mister Microphone.

2) I got to see some really cute white cows.

3) the most important, and significant. My friend lost his father on Friday. He had been sick for some time. My friend did not just leave a message for one of us telling us what was going on, but he sent all of us at the GCCDS an email letting us know not only that his father had passed away, but also how much we(most of whom had never met him, and only knew his son) meant to him. I thought that it was such an amazing gesture of love for his father, that this became the moment of the day that suprised me the most. My heart goes out to you and your family James.

I am not doing this because of the new year!

I am not trying to renew my blog because of the new year; this is not a resolution. I am doing this because I like blogging, and I have been distracted over the last several months, with friends, work, knitting and in general, life in the trailer park. Nothing bad, just occupied.

I have also been reminded by the new flock of students that have started the semester in the studio. I have encouraged them to begin keeping keeping a blog about their next 4 months. I am excited to see what happens. It also got me thinking that I need to get back on this wagon and continue to document the things that happen in my life. I am going to also start making daily notes of things that amaze me or surprise me or just things that are wonderful (this is a resolution, can you see me trying to better my self now?).

So here goes:
My friend Britton has been hired at the GCCDS. Oh, what a good addition it is going to be to the team. He fits right into the group. He is a fan of the Project Lounge, Bonfires and Porch Sitting. But what good southerner wouldnt be. Oh yeah! He is from the Deep South! I say this with such excitement, because now we have two people in the office that can claim to be southerners!!!! Three if you count Virginia/West Virginia, which I guess we should.

Speaking of Southerners in the office, I think we are growing one. Kristen, from PA, made biscuits yesterday, and they were good! But, I have to say that she is not that far away from being a good southerner to start. She went home for Christmas and butchered a Pig.

How awesome is that! I am a bit jealous to be quite honest.

Last night I went to her house, and sat on her porch for a while, drank awful wine that i had got from the closest package store out of a Ball jar (handed to me by the pretty much southern Kristen) and talked with a bunch of my office mates, and a few extras.

Last night was so pleasant. and to top it off, Kristen, Jenny and I watch Nausicaa which was so good. Go watch it!

Today was also a good day. I met Seth and Emily at the office and we finished some shelves that i have been wanting to finish for some time. Then I got to reorganize it. Oh, I am so excite about that. It looks so much better.

I also met up with Nadene and we worked on the Mujeres Unidas Shade Structure for a bit. I think it has the potential to be super awesome! We will be building a model of it over the next few days with hopes to talk to the ladies about it wednesday.

And now... AND NOW, I am going to go sit by a fire for a while and enjoy friendship!

Things that surprised me today: I think the thing that most suprised me today was this morning when working with Seth and Emily, the way they moved around eachother in such tight spaces working to get the shelves in, it showed such comfort, and understanding of the other person's presence. Not that I wouldnt expect it from them, but it was really nice to notice.

Off to the fire!