Merge: to join together; unite; combine
This photograph was a bitch to finally get. I tried several times while driving which I know was dumb but I wanted it. I wanted the words not the sign with the symbol for merge. There are a few of these signs around but usually they aren’t in a good spot to stop as traffic is merging! I scouted out this sign and noticed there was also a pull out so, if the traffic didn’t stink I could actually pull off the road, hop out of my car and capture the shot without too many people turning their heads to see what the woman is doing taking a picture of a sign. I wanted this sign so I had to have it because I’d been dreaming of a new journal.
When you dream, the reality of those dreams is often never realized because one thinks they are too far fetched or you have been told they will never happened. Sometimes a window opens, just a tad, enough that you can squeak a dream through and the realization of that dream often feels as though it is touchable. You want to hold your breath for fear that if you breathe out too much the path may change slightly. I have a friend right now who has dreamed big and that dream is almost touchable and that is where the merge happens; the dream meets reality.
We all dream. Whether they are dreams disguised as goals or the daydreaming what if type of dreams, we all do it. Some, including myself, like to see dreams come true. In some cases, those dreams do come true, like when I met Jann Arden and, in some cases, it’s a game of wait and see. There will always be people who come into your life that don’t believe in your dreams, can’t understand your dreams and really aren’t huge supporters of making your dreams come true. For me, I enjoy proving those types wrong and really work hard to show them I am above their negativity and will work extra hard for some dreams to be realized. I believe in myself; I know what I want and what I don’t want in my life and because of that, I do think more dreams can be realized. Sometimes our dreams feel like they are impossible and just being in the moment of that daydream where you can feel what it may feel l
ike if that dream came true is a great feeling. Sometimes, as we get closer to realizing that dream it puts us in that scary place of becoming real feeling, touchable…and that’s the merge when dreams meet reality and things come full circle.
Dreams Meet Reality is NEW in my Etsy shop!
December 2, 1970 brought ME into this world. It is my last year before I turn 40. I’m not fond of odd numbered years and, because of this, I always round up. If asked, I shall say I’m either 40 next year or I’m in my 40th year! Fun! Sooooo, what’s a birthday without gifts?
I hate letting other people use my camera. You see, I have a thing, it’s called a little OCD and a little controlling but it’s my camera and I like my camera to be ready, perfectly empty for when I want to use it. I use it and then immediately upload the pictures into its special folder designed just for that particular photo op reason. There is nothing more irritating for me than uploading pictures and finding other pictures are uploading that I didn’t take let alone want on my computer or in that particular file. Many people (husband) say to me “What does it matter, just delete them.” He’s right, that I can delete them, but it does matter because that’s not my way and I like things just so. He’s learning, he now asks to use my camera and I politely say “No, use yours” and then he says “Mine’s broken.” and I say “Exactly why I don’t want you using mine.” Sometimes though, I’ll let it happen. Tessa is the biggest extra user of my camera. She’s getting better at asking too. When she does use my camera she’s extremely camera happy and I have to sift through about 200 or so shitty pictures to clear my camera BUT and I say BUT with big capital letters because every now and again, from her angle of the world she will capture a shot that makes me think.
This particular picture I kept. Tessa was thrilled I kept a few pictures, although she wasn’t thrilled that I named her folder “Tessa’s yuck picture”, oops! I told her I was keeping this one and she said “Oh, thanks Mom, you like that sign?” This sign sits on our property. I told her it wasn’t the sign in particular that I liked but what the sign said and the way, from her angle, she captured the sky along with the sign. She asked if I was thinking of making a book with it and I said yes. She couldn’t quite figure out why so I told her. Many people feel trapped inside themselves as if they have “No Exit”. When people keep a journal it’s as if they have an exit. Tessa liked the idea and thought I was brilliant. I then took my idea and bantered it back and forth with 
I’ve been away for a week in Penticton and prior to leaving I had started an 8×10 canvas but didn’t get to finish it. If there is something people should know about me is that I hate unfinished projects. Right up until our departure I was adding to this canvas and as we drove away, it was driving me nuts that I didn’t finish it. When we arrived in Penticton, our friends John, Leah and Luke had already arrived. Fun was waiting to be had and fun was had by all. It was a great week. Leah and I got to spend some much needed time together as the year had been a tough one time wise. It’s amazing how you can live less than a block from someone and yet not see them longer than an hour per week sometimes. It felt good to be side by side neighbours in our little motel. Our families do better together than most “real” families – it just works and we are so lucky. Our motel has movie night for the kids every night at 8 p.m. Leah made sure each night our kids had front row seats. The motel provided the movie as well as popcorn and slushies for the kids in a variety of flavors. While the kids were watching their movie, us adults indulged in adult time and made use of every single second! Once the kids were sleeping I tried to catch up with my Twitter friends, stay in the loop with respect to my 
My brain is very much an out of sight/out of mind type brain so while away, I had to remind myself that I should be thinking of my dog Max and wonder how he was doing every now and again. What I did miss a ton was my art. Tessa and I went around the little area where we stayed one day and took pictures of cool stuff in people’s yards – well she’d run up as I stood there on guard for people who thought we were crazy. She kept saying “What about this Mommy? I think this would make a great book cover!” It made me miss my creative process even more and because I was constantly thinking of that unfinished canvas I kept trying to finish it in my brain. Now if I were 
This canvas will be called My Sanctuary as that empty picnic table represents a place to be alone, quiet and deep in thought. A place to sit and reflect on all you are grateful for. After a week in Penticton I am grateful for my pseudo family and all the memories we’ll always have together.
Not every day can be perfect. In fact, sometimes it feels like things are constantly going wrong for days or weeks. We have a choice, dwell in the misery or choose to move forward and be happy. There are circumstances in my life that I can’t understand nor can I control. Yeah sure they suck and, at times, they frustrate the crap out of me but I if I let myself dwell in these situations it takes away from the life I want to live.
