10 Simple Truths That I Struggle to Believe.

Not believing them doesn't make them any less true...

1. I cannot change who I am.

2. I certainly cannot change who you are.

3. I cannot change the past.

4. Worry does not change my future.

5. I cannot require things from people, I simply need to take them as they are.

6. Life isn't fair and it doesn't have to be.

7. Life isn't bad. This one especially gets me. 99% of us are not dealt a crappy hand in life. If you think you're a victim of circumstance and you've got vision, hearing, and can generally function on your own in life...you are blessed! You don't get what you want out of life because YOU CHOOSE to be miserable.

8. Nobody likes a complainer.

9. Nobody feels sorry for someone who feels pretty sorry for themself.

10. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Phillipians 4:13. Not only are all things possible through him, but the power in this text is strength. Strength comes from God. I can take up this fight all I want...but what is fighting without strength?

San Antonio birding, day 1, part 2

In addition to being confused by swallows, flirted with by night-herons, and confused by mutt ducks, we also saw a lot of cool butterflies and wildflowers. Here's a little photo album, with IDs where I could figure them out:

some kind of sulphur? John and Hap say Checkered White. Sounds good.

cute little purple flower

Swamp Rose Mallow

blue horse-nettle

pretty purple flower

Mexican Hat

Mexican Poppy

unknown pretty flower

Common Checkered-Skipper (thanks, Hap)

Dayflower

unidentified butterfly

I couldn't figure this one out; shaped like a Mourning Cloak but colored differently. It was just plain gray on the outer wing-sides and this vibrant orange-copper on the inside. John and Hap say Goatweed Leafwing -- sounds good!

An American Lotus among the lilypads

a more battered Checkered White.

tiny little toad in my niece Lilia's hand

Crazy Hair

Turns out I don't have to dig into the depths of my brain to create a look for a character. It bounces into the living room in the form of eldest son. No, he's not in a band. Merely a whim. Woke up, decided to get a mohawk.

I have to say, as someone who's worn pretty much the same boring hairstyle her whole life (well, my sorta bangs are a tad less crooked than from age six), drastic hair change is out of my comfort zone.

However, this mohawk really got me thinking about his mood, reactions from others, and a full character image.

I see some crazy hair developing in the next chapter I write. This could prove quite amusing.