4 Square Miles Surrounded By Reality

Just about a year ago, Mike and I moved to our dream location -- for now anyway, Ann Arbor.   Getting our home livable didn't take too much work -- at least not on my part, as I left all the heavy lifting to the man of the house, while I made excuses :). The amenities of living in this little "big" city are legion.  We moved just in time to spend the warm summer evenings strolling into town to enjoy dinner outside at one of the many eating establishments - often with Max, the Wonder Dog in tow. Tying your dog up to the table leg is an accepted tradition around these parts, and one of the many things we just love about the area.  As we'd walk along, many of the retail establishments would display their dog friendly nature by posting a water dish outside for Max's relief.  

The local green areas are fabulous, with the true piece de resistance being Nichols Arboretum.  We still walk in wonder that this beautiful retreat is smack dab in the middle of the city. We even tried out the new cascades at the Argo Dam.My beloved Jewel Heart Tibetan Buddhist Center is a mere 10 minutes away, and I've been able to take full advantage of seeing Gelek Rimpoche and taking classes there.

All of these amenities are within 10-15 minutes of our life.

The big question is how long would it take before the honeymoon ended, and the warts began to appear?  Yes, Ann Arbor is still the choice for us while we continue to reside in Michigan, but the the t-shirt for sale in the local shop says it all:  Ann Arbor-4 Square Miles Surrounded By Reality.  

I've puzzled over why this tiny little city seems sheltered from the harsh realities of what's affecting the rest of Michigan and the world for that matter.  Is it the university atmosphere - the tilt of professors and researchers that live here, holed up in academia, never coming in contact with the grim day-to-day harshness that most of us see?  Is it the upper income residents, more doctors and dentists per capita than anywhere else in Michigan, and probably a good smattering of lawyers, too, who enjoy a standard of living that supports not one, but two Whole Paycheck Food stores and  Plum Market?  Luckily, of course, there's a Trader Joe's for those of us on a budget.

How, you may ask, do I draw that conclusion?  Well, it's the minutiae with which I find residents obsess and bicker about.  One neighborhood worried about the student rental population encroaching into the family neighborhood--and perhaps rightly so, what with the frat houses, and raucous parties abounding, perhaps leading to declining home values.  Mike and I were newcomers so hadn't yet formed an opinion, but also pondered, isn't it the student population that makes Ann Arbor endearing?  The most recent 'icing on the cake' for me was reading an www.annarbor.com article about an informal dog gathering, and the ensuing comments.  One commenter:  "Picking up a slab of poop with a plastic bag-covered hand does not clean up all the poop, and children walk and play on the same grass."  I was left shaking my head in dismay, wondering if this person outfitted their child in some plastic Bubble Boy suit before allowing them to leave the house.

Similar idiotic comments followed about scofflaw dog owners who pretty much should be drawn and quartered, or at the very least, quarantined to some corner of the world.  There were some 250+ comments, mostly negative.  That that many people chose to obsess and comment about such a silly topic truly demonstrated to me how out of touch this sheltered city is.  It does seem to be quite the dichotomy from how welcoming the local retail establishments are of our four legged friends.

Then to continue on in the SMH category, I find out that the millage increase for our parks is going to be spent employing part-time rangers, whose main duty will be to ticket off leash dog walkers.  Seriously? This is the most pressing need of our society at this time?  More to come in another blog post about why I choose to devote my time volunteering at the local domestic violence shelter, SafeHouse Center, and not wasting valuable hours worried about whether someone is waking their dog offleash in a 160 acre park.

Limony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events

How can one month of the year be so daunting and exhausting? At least part of the plan of action hasn't wavered--too much. I registered for the 1/2 marathon, and have been picking up the feet to get back into running shape.

Brief aside: Dr. Oz, please stop telling people walking is exercise. I'm huffing and puffing so badly while running it's a wonder spectators on the path aren't calling 911, worried I'll keel over. And this from a woman who's walked/hiked 1-2 hours a day for the previous 12 months. Thankfully, my body is uttering "Oh, yeah, I remember this!" I ponder what the average bloke, waking up at near 50 thinking, hmm, let me try running, who's never run/walked/moved before in their life would feel like.

Back to the perpetual full moon or past life/this life mistakes coming back to haunt me. It all started (I believe) one fateful evening early in January where I headed to St. Joe's to meet with a SafeHouse Center client. A couple days later, the Plague descended upon me, and till this day, has not left the hallows of my chest, much to the chagrin of my husband, coworkers, or anyone else within 50 feet of me who must endure the repeated echos of a hacking cough -- though thankfully have not succumbed to the same disease! Two doctor visits later, and at the end of week 4, it is dissipating, but for a solid three weeks, I was coughing to the point of sore ribs, blood shot eyes and tears.

Besides the Plague, it's the gnawing gaffes that have popped up all month: The drunk who slid into my car one snowy night, taking off the bumper; the dishes that came crashing out of the cupboard onto the floor; setting a not fully sealed water bottle down next to me and realizing too late I'm in a puddle of water; falling into a mud pile, twice, while walking the dog; the dog that got skunked--and then again almost a 2nd time the next day.

I realize these are all small annoyances that don't amount to the tragedy that many suffer, but piled up day after day have just taken a certain toll.

I've been trying to "chin up" but I think last night I about hit the breaking point, dissolving into a puddle of tears as I left the house for a Jewel Heart class. The topic was "Enthusiasm" for the spiritual path. True to form, the uplifitng words of fellow sangha members, as well as my effort to bring my focus back to the "big picture," I returned home a new person.

Here's wishing for a rose-filled February!

The Usual 1st of the Year Drivel

Seems apropos to add a new entry on January 1, no? And fill it with all the where has the time gone, blah, blah, blah. Not sure whether it should be "wow, new year, new beginnings, fresh slate" or "let's take stock of the past year."

I've never been a 1st of the year gal, one to set all these resolutions and follow the lemming-like drove to the gyms, and healthier eating. September always seemed to be my time of year, the new school year, new classmates, new tablets, pens and classes about which to be excited. Even though I've left that all behind many years ago, I still love the fall.

But for once in my life, I have to say I am looking forward to this new year of 2012.

Taking stock of last year, it was an incredibly busy and stress-filled year. January, we found the house we wanted in Ann Arbor, and it was a race to beat others to the punch in getting this deal. February was filled with haggling around with finanacing and finally getting to the closing table.

While our little gem wasn't in quite the "fixer-upper" shape as our former house, it still needed some polish. The biggest on the to-do list was gutting the upstairs bathroom, which, while it seemed like an easy project, took until April to complete. But the painting, carpeting, cleaning, all took more work than anticipated, trying to accomplish this, all with a busier than normal work schedule took its toll on me. It never could have been done without what can only be described as Herculean effort by my dear husband, Mike.

Finally in April, the big moving day hit. Overall, we're not quite the hoarders, or packrats of the average Americans, but really, how is it that we have so much stuff? Losing a garage and 300 square feet proved to be a challenge to my organizational skills.

In May, work took over my life and we had one of the biggest trials I've had in over 10 years, a mortgage fraud case with three defendants, all which ended in a hung jury. It lasted until the end of June! The ensuing months of July, August, September & October found me in the office or at my house furiously completing the transcript for the retrial set to begin spring of 2012. (No, Virginia, court reporters just don't push a button and a meticulous transcript comes popping out!)

One shining moment amongst the chaos was my attendance at Jewel Heart's summer retreat, documented in my last blog post.

November, it was gearing up for where we've been this past month: Mike and I, busy traipsing through Asia.

So you see, I'm hoping 2012 to be filled with more people, places and events, rather than work, work, work-- whether on the house or in the office!

Om Mani Padme Hum

Ten years ago, I was in New York City, very shortly after the Twin Towers fell. It was a prearranged trip to Broadway and shopping with my favorite aunt--scratch that, dear friend. Sadly, she passed away two years ago this month from pancreatic cancer.

I always had attributed Mike and my 2002 trip to Asia as the impetus for my Buddhist belief system, but as I thought harder, I realized this just couldn't be so. With all the 10 year anniversary coverage of 9/11, it brought back memories of my trip there, witnessing all the devastation firsthand. In the midst of it all I recall visiting the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art. So clearly, something compelled me across the Hudson River to Staten Island, long before I stepped foot in Asia. While there, I purchased a card of the Buddhist Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, who embodies compassion, a card I still cherish today. The title here, Om Mani Padme Hum, is that mantra I repeat almost daily. I mean is there anything better to strive for than having compassion for all sentient beings? (note, I have a long way to go :)

This past August into September also marked my first ever Summer Retreat at Jewel Heart. It was the most intense 10 days of my life. Retreat is rather a misnomer, as I think I needed a month to recover from the wealth of information garnered from Gelek Rimpoche reading Pabongka Rinpoche's book Liberation in the Palm of your Hand.
At the end of the 10 days, there was an Amityus long life empowerment given by Rimpoche, and a Lama Chopa Tsoh. Both of these are, well, "above my pay grade," to explain, so see the links of my Google search.

Pabongka's book is amazing, I mean there it is, right there, a text to, well, give you liberation. I was so thrilled reading this tome, step by step instructions, if you will, of Buddha's teachings to help me on my path to spiritual enlightment. Read this, and I'm done! Whoa, slow down there, cowboy. My brain literally ached after each evening, trying to absorb it all.

But what is so satisfying, despite the overwhelming nature of it all, is that it's truly all in my hands, not some external source to save me from damnation.

I think--no, I know it will take me more than this lifetime to grasp the dharma, but I continue to meditate on the Buddha's teachings, knowing each day I am changed from the one that has passed.

Peace in Ann Arbor

It's cliche, I know, to say how time slips away, but here I am, day after day, roboting through the mundanity of life, only to see that the calendar says August!

During my morning walk in the woods with Max this morning I am struck yet again, at the good fortune I have to be so close to nature's wonders here in Ann Arbor. Today's journey was to the 160 acre Bird Hills recreation area near M-14 and Huron River Drive. This wooded area is one of Max's favorite spots, as he can run free, alongside other hikers, runners, and dog walkers, who don't mind off leash dogs, especially well-behaved ones!
I could spend quite a long time traipsing through the trails here, but I take the main thoroughfare trail out to Bird Road and cross Huron River Drive and head over to the Barton Park area. To my left, there is the Barton Dam and a water treatment plant. However, as soon as you walk the bridge, you follow the river and end up in the middle of secluded trails, amongst shrubby meadows, flowers, following along the river. I'm always astounded on my walks here at the rarity of any other people, in this city of about 115,000.




The most fun Max has walking along the river of course is being able to plunge in and cool off. What with the searing temps, and his luscious fur coat, it's been a difficult summer for him. He is a goof in the water!

I can't think of a more delightful and peaceful way to start my morning, and neither can Max! However, the aftermath of Max's exuberant run through the woods adds another 45 minutes to my repertoire as I pick out all the burrs that have accumulated in his fur.

Man vs. Squirrel

It was a morning like any other -- the only difference is I was trying to cram a Max walk in before another busy day at work, so I leashed him up to take a spin through the neighborhood. I use a harness and a retractable leash so Max can explore a little without being confined to the regular six-foot leash.

The inherent problem in the Burns Park neighborhood is it's replete with squirrels --one of whom even took up residence in our attic. (A story for another day!)

As we rounded the corner onto Granger, I spotted a couple of the furry little beasts and we skipped into a jog to play our game of let's pretend to go catch the squirrel. I'm usually pretty good about paying attention, but in some sort of karmic revenge of the squirrels for our torment, Max ran much much quicker than the retractable leash and my short legs could keep up, and I was soon face first on the cement.


Picture, if you will, the kids' summer game of Slip-n-Slide, but it all taking place on a sidewalk, me dragged a few feet. At some point I must have had the brilliant idea to finally let go of the leash -- that or my weakness, and Max continued to race after the squirrels until they ended up in a tree.

After about 30 stunned seconds, I collected myself, only to find Max calmly sitting under the tree as if to say "Uh, can we get going on this walk?" One kind soul walking her dog asked if I was okay, which for the most part I was. I picked up the leash as best I could, despite the profusion of blood in the palms of my hands, and headed home. Luckily I was only a few short blocks away.
And lucky for you, my initial instinct to photograph the injury was overcome by my rush to get to work -- that and the fact our minimalist household was ill equipped to care for my wounds, so my prework routine also necessitated a stop at the pharmacy!

When I got home, I discovered a horrible bruise to my hip, that my shorts had been terribly ripped and my phone, that was in a solid leather case, had broken!


After the adrenaline of the whole ordeal wore off, the pain started to kick in, and a gracious colleague offered me her Tylenol. Of course, my line of work isn't exactly conducive to recuperating the injury either. By the end of a morning of rapid fire court testimony, the hand that was holding the leash was aching. I soon worried perhaps I had broken my wrist and it was off to the urgent care clinic to verify whether this was the case. Thankfully this was not so, but they did equip me with a fancy brace for the sprain.

Now I know you're thinking "Why didn't you let go of the leash?" Or "You know Max pulls on the leash when he sees squirrels." To which I've replied to all, "It's called an accident for a reason." LOL. Anyway, it's back to off leash in the woods with that boy!

Needless to say, in this saga of man vs. squirrel, the squirrel won!

Whirlwind

Could it be this hiatus has been because of a tsunami of events? Why yes. Seems my initial fretting over selling our Livonia home was all for naught, as shortly thereafter we received an offer! Not that that process wasn't fraught with the usual back and forth shell game. But, alas, the paperwork is signed, sealed, delivered!

More importantly what's consumed our lives over the last weeks has been our new home in the panacea of Michigan: Ann Arbor!













This little bank owned gem in Burns Park was a rental home in pretty good shape. We closed mid March, and of course the "pretty good shape" has turned into more work than anticipated, but nothing like our former home. It all has been a bit overwhelming but soon it will all be a distant memory.

The absolute best part of the story is my 1.4 mile commute to the office! After Mother Nature dumped a fresh layer of snow the day after our "official" move, not having to get in the car and drive was the sweetest delight, even if the sewer was backing up from my morning shower.