Archive | About Claudia

14 March 2010 ~ 8 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 372

We are in the middle of the start of a massive backyard redo. Of course, it required this large piece of machinery.  As you can imagine, the husband is in seventh heaven!

Lucky for me, there’s always mutterings. No heavy machinery involved. Just a few word prompts. That you and I play together once a week.

How do you play? Simply fill out the word prompts (created by the lovely Pea at LunaNina) in the comment section. Easy! Fun! And, if you have time, check back to see what other people say. That’s my favorite part.

Here are your word prompts:

  1. Children ::
  2. Saddlebags ::
  3. Restraint ::
  4. Awake ::
  5. Blood ::
  6. Shutter ::
  7. Posted ::
  8. Corn cob ::
  9. Flagrant ::
  10. Fart ::

Here are my answers:

  1. Children :: ’s story horrifying
  2. Saddlebags :: gaah
  3. Restraint :: from gooey sweet loveliness
  4. Awake ::ned by the screaming dog
  5. Blood :: curdling scream
  6. Shutter :: to think of it
  7. Posted :: Unconscious Mutterings
  8. Corn cob :: summer
  9. Flagrant :: warm summer air filled with the smell of night blooming jasmine
  10. Fart :: jokes – meh

Happy Sunday! When you play I’ll link to you here!

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09 March 2010 ~ 3 Comments

Someone bought the haunted mansion.

If you’ve been around this limb for a while, you might remember me talking about the Croke Patterson Mansion.

From Legends of America :

Built in 1890 by Thomas B. Croke, this sandstone residence was one of the country’s most elegant homes. Now serving as an office building, it is also said to be one of the most haunted.

According to the legend Thomas B. Croke, only entered the palatial mansion one time and was so emotionally shaken by “whatever” was there, that he never returned. Just two years later it was sold to Thomas M. Patterson, who’s family kept the home for several decades. Over the next several years, the building served many purposes, including a dance studio, a radio station, and a boarding house before it was converted to an office building. During the renovation to office space in the 1970’s, construction crews began to experience a number of strange occurrences.

After a long days work, they would often return the next day to find that the tasks they had completed the day before had been “undone.” After this had occurred several times, guard dogs were left to protect the property from what the workmen thought might be intruders. However, the next day they found the two Doberman Pinschers dead on the sidewalk after having apparently jumped from a third-story window. Once the renovation to office building was complete, employees almost immediately began to notice equipment, such as typewriters, copy machines, and telephone that mysteriously began to operate by themselves.

When a séance was held to determine who was haunting the building, they found it to be the spirit of a little girl whose body was supposedly entombed in the cellar. However, when the basement was excavated, they found a hidden chamber was found, filled with sea sand, but no remains of a little girl.

A ghostly image has often been sighted gliding up and down the main floor stairway and otherworldly voices have been heard here as well. Thomas Patterson, former owner of the home, is said to have been spied numerous times in the courtyard between the mansion and the carriage house.

When the building still served as an apartment building, occupants on the lower levels were known to complain about wild parties taking place on the third level. But, when these parties were investigated, they would be met with only silent emptiness.

(Photo gallery of Croke Patterson mansion)

I’ve read that it’s the second most haunted building in Colorado and in the top ten buildings for the Western United States.

My first psychotherapy office was in the Croke Patterson Mansion from 1996-1997. (My office was the door to the left next to the second floor mirror.) when a Veterinarian purchase the office building with the desire to turn it into a private residence. He and his new wife moved into the home with her two children. They turned the house into a private residence then went bankrupt. The house has been empty for at least two years.

It’s been for sale for at least a year.  Originally it was for sale for 1.3 million dollars. At last check, it was $495,000.  D asked me a number of times if I wanted to look at it. Usually, I love to look at old houses, and I love to house shop. But I wouldn’t allow myself to get drawn into the demons, ghosts, and otherwise evil spirits of the place.

Someone has recently purchased the home.

May God have mercy on their souls.

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07 March 2010 ~ 12 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 371

We had a couple of gorgeous days of spring… Now back to our usually scheduled rain and snow.

Oh well, at least we have Mutterings. These tiny little word prompts (created by the birthday girl Pea at LunaNina) help refresh the mind and soul. Or at least they are fun to do.

How do you play? Simply answer the word prompts in the comment section. When you’re done, take a look at what other people have said. It’s an awesome way to see how different and similar we are.

Here are your prompts:

  1. Detective ::
  2. Bangs ::
  3. Consultant ::
  4. Puzzle ::
  5. Learn ::
  6. Necklace ::
  7. 184 ::
  8. Stimulation ::
  9. Layered ::
  10. Police ::

Here are my answers:

  1. Detective :: novel
  2. Bangs :: She
  3. Consultant :: Business
  4. Puzzle :: Business
  5. Learn :: ing how to interact with business consultants is a puzzle
  6. Necklace :: diamond
  7. 184 :: diamonds
  8. Stimulation :: fantasy
  9. Layered :: silk
  10. Police :: Denver

Happy Sunday! When you play I’ll link to you here!

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02 March 2010 ~ 5 Comments

ItStartsWith.Us

Recently I joined a cool program called ItStartswith.us

ItStartsWith.us is a cool program designed to get people involved in making a positive impact on other people. Once a week, Nate, the founder of ItStartsWith.us, sends out an email with a weekly mission. The weekly mission is a 15 minute simple idea that can positively impact another person.  So far, I’ve been asked to do something special for a child and reconnect with an old friend.

We were in Craig for the book signing the week of doing something special for a child. I was able to spend some time with my young friend, Caroline. Over dinner at her mother’s house, I went through all of her birthday wishes including American Girl baby items. Ok, it doesn’t sound like much of a challenge but trust me. This American Girl stuff is creepy. It was all I could do not to scream “WHAT THE HELL?”  We also bought our usual case of Girl Scout cookies. And hopefully, Caroline felt like a special girl.

I was able to reconnect with a friend from Junior High School via Facebook. Facebook is such a weird adventure where past and present combine. Anyway, I enjoyed getting a chance to find out more about a woman who was a good friend to me in a time that I needed it.

Doesn’t sound very hard, does it?

So why not join ItStartsWith.Us? It’s free, costs you only 15 minutes a week, and you get to do something positive for someone else. If you’re worried about what you’ll be asked to do, click here to download a copy of last years challenges. Again, they are easy, fun and you can really make a difference in someone’s life.

There’s no downside to this! Go ahead – join! :)

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28 February 2010 ~ 13 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 370

Just say no to snow! At least that’s what I’m doing. So far so good this morning! (Of course there’s a 60% chance of snow, so my wishes will probably be denied.)

At least we have Unconscious Mutterings to depend on. You play this game by simply answering the word prompts (created by LunaNina) in the comments section. It’s a fun way to clear out the unconscious and get the week going!

Let’s play! Here are your word prompts:

  1. Harm ::
  2. If ::
  3. On my own ::
  4. She said ::
  5. Illegal ::
  6. Broke ::
  7. It’s a ::
  8. Chatting ::
  9. Cottege ::
  10. Podcast ::

Here are my answers:

  1. Harm :: ’s way
  2. If :: I were a rich man
  3. On my own :: today
  4. She said :: it was true
  5. Illegal :: to marry
  6. Broke ::n down
  7. It’s a :: tragedy
  8. Chatting :: it up
  9. Cottege :: miss spelled cottage
  10. Podcast :: esh

Happy Sunday! When you play I’ll link to you here!

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22 February 2010 ~ 2 Comments

Change your direction, not your goal

“When obstacles arise, change your direction to reach your goal,
not the decision to get there.”

–Zig Ziglar

Happy Monday!

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21 February 2010 ~ 12 Comments

Unconscious Mutterings : Week 369

Snow yesterday and the day before. Snowing today and tomorrow. Winter has returned to Colorado.

Gratefully, it’s nice and warm inside. Going inside is what Unconscious Mutterings are all about. These simple word prompts (created by LunaNina) help us access what might otherwise be hidden.  How do you play? Simply answer the word prompts in the comments. Read the word and write down whatever comes to your mind. Easy.  After you answer, take a look at what other people say. It’s amazing how similar, and yet unique we are.

  1. Teeth ::
  2. Sweeten ::
  3. Demons ::
  4. Pizza ::
  5. Protector ::
  6. Smooth ::
  7. Coat ::
  8. Pebbles ::
  9. Pregnant ::
  10. Sing ::

My responses:

  1. Teeth :: grating
  2. Sweeten :: er, artificial sucks
  3. Demons :: of doubt
  4. Pizza :: ‘I love pizza’
  5. Protector :: Pocket
  6. Smooth :: operator
  7. Coat :: ed with rayon
  8. Pebbles :: of sand
  9. Pregnant :: with snow
  10. Sing :: , sing a song, make it simple to last the whole day long… (Sesame Street version)

Happy Sunday! When you play, I’ll link to you here.

Who played?

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18 February 2010 ~ 1 Comment

Start a movement!

I saw this yesterday and felt like it needed to be passed along. (It’s 17 minutes.) I know that a lot of people talk about ‘tribes’ now. I’ve seen some of the most narcissistic people I know discuss how they are leaders of tribes. Because of that, I’ve stayed away from my beloved Seth Godin’s talks on tribe.

Not surprisingly, the actual conversation about tribes has very little to do with ego, and more to do with changing the world for the better.

If you can make the time, this talk is worth watching.

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16 February 2010 ~ 3 Comments

Book signing in Craig, Colorado

As you know, the husband, Rose and I drove to Craig, Colorado for a book signing. This was my first outing with Learning to Stand. I’ve been in Craig a couple times before and have a tiny, but loyal group of people who like my books. I was a guest at the Craig chamber event at the Moffat Public Library.

I had a blast. I met a lot of different people, talked about books, and the entire drama that is modern publishing.

This is a very blurry picture of me talking to Carolyn. Originally, the table was set up near the back – kind of off by itself. After a half hour or so, we moved the books up to a shelf near the front.

I enjoyed getting the chance to meet the business owners of Craig. It’s an amazing group of people. They scratch out a living in one of the coldest places in Colorado. There’s a beautiful air of the outdoors and a refreshing sense of transparency.

I’m really glad I had a chance to attend this  event. I truly had a fabulous time: sold a few books, even encouraged a couple people to check the books from the library (Isn’t that fun?), and gave away books as door prizes.

One librarian said my books create a lot of work for her. I was confused by what she said. She laughed and told me the books are checked out a lot.

The books were in great condition – not damaged at all – and definitely read. I was thrilled to see that people had read them.  I also donated Learning to Stand and Celia’s Puppies for the library. Hopefully their collection will grow!

While ‘m not sure about book signings as a vehicle for book sales, I did have a wonderful time.

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15 February 2010 ~ 4 Comments

Trust thyself

“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I had a BIG lesson in this last weekend. A certain business situation was presented as an opportunity but it felt funny.  I checked it out with someone I trust. Turns out it was a funny situation.  I hope you trust yourself this week!

Happy Monday!

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