EMBRACE SIMPLICITY!

 

 (labyrinth + heart = centering - pic taken 1/31/10)

"Year by year, the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities." 

~ Woman's Home Companion Magazine, December 1935 

             

Weekends are NOT long enough! I worked yesterday (Saturday); then slept until 9:36am this morning! I can't remember the last time I slept that late?? Even as a teenager, I don't remember sleeping in "late"... I always had so much I wanted "to do" that I didn't want to "waste" time SLEEPING!! Ummm... I don't remember what was so important that I would "bounce out of bed" to get my day started???

Well - I did start my Sunday with a "leisurely" cup of coffee and glanced through the newspaper... actually, the local paper has so few pages (even the Sunday edition) that I can read it in a FLASH!! BUT, as a "loyal reader" I renewed our subscription because I like the sound of the newspaper "plopping" on the concrete driveway each morning at 3:50am. AND, I don't want to see people lose jobs if the local news ceases production... 

Back to my post! After a two hour "chat" with my mom (thank goodness for long-distance "family plans"), I noticed it was mid-afternoon. What had I done? where had my day disappeared? URGGHHH! 

Laundry... played with my camera... downloaded photos on the computer... answered emails... read some blogs... climbed in the shower... "It's ME! I'm HOME!" JPE was HOME?? How could that be? 

JPE was HOME!!! I'm excited to see him... but how could my weekend have sped by??

But... I didn't get ___ done. Wait, I need more hours for ___ !

Umm. I did play with my camera! I did read some blogs! I have clean clothes for work! I loved "catching up" with mom! and JPE is HOME again... Ahhhh - the "simple pleasures" of life!

MOVIE WEEKEND!

(pic taken 1/24/10)

WE LOVE GOING TO THE MOVIES!

Yesterday we saw, "A Single Man" with Colin Firth & Matthew Goode (also playing in "Leap Year"). Mourning a "lost love," Colin Firth plays a school teacher (a teacher in California wouldn't be able to afford the "to-die-for" bungalow & sporty car - perhaps he's British wealth??) who moves through life in "slow motion." 

Loved the subtle changes from black & white (the present) to his past (shown in color)... 

Lots of "flawless skin" & incredibly "expressive eyes" from all the male actors.

This afternoon, we saw "Broken Embraces" with Penelope Cruz (adorable Marilyn Monroe + Audrey Hepburn hairdos). Of course, Penelope is beautiful... she could be wearing a flour sack & still look fabulous!). The plot twists & turns... 

We've put this on our Netflix list (so we can hear Pedro Almodovar's post-production commentary)... 

TELL ME... why did Mateo Blanco/Harry Caine "look" out the security peep-hole in his front door if he was "blind"????

MOVIES = INDULGENCE??

The Palm Theater charges $5. for seniors (60+) & a small popcorn costs a "buck". Holding hands w/JPE is FREE! A CHEAP DATE?!?!

IT'S RAINING! IT'S POURING!

(pic taken on my front porch 1/20/10)

"A little of what you fancy does you good."
~ Marie Lloyd, English music hall singer 

I love RAIN! 

BUT... when I was growing up - RAIN 
meant my dad (he was a brick mason) 

didn't work!! 

it's difficult?? no impossible!! 
to lay brick in the rain.

The "mud" 
(cement, mortar - the glue that binds bricks together) 

wouldn't "set properly" and the job 
would have to be re-done 
(which was a waste of someone's $$ & supplies).

No work! meant NO $$$... 

So ~ you can see why "rainy days" 

were frowned upon in my family.

BUT ~ rainy days also meant 

"hot cocoa w/freshly baked cookies" 

(peanut butter were my favorite!) after-school.

AND, soup for dinner! creamy split-pea... Yum!

Today's RAIN made me "happy"... fancy that!

 

COLLECTION #1

Tonight I packed the SANTA'S away until November 27, 2010.... 
YES - I usually begin unpacking my Christmas decorations on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.... 
NO - I don't shop on that weekend!!! 
But, to get back to the point of this post.... 

Several BLOG sites have posted collections, so I wanted  to document a "few" of my "SANTAS" before wrapping them in tissue.... Five SANTA'S were NEW this year, so they have the "distinct honor" of being displayed on the "coveted" red & green swirled cake stand. Can you figure out which ones were NEW??? (Thank You to ACE & JPE for adding to my collection - I confess! I purchased one of the SANTA'S for myself).

Look for COLLECTION #2 next month. 

Interested in other collections?

http://collectionaday2010.blogspot.com/
http://inchmark.squarespace.com/ 

ATTITUDE!!!

"ATTITUDE IS A LITTLE THING

THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE"
~ WINSTON CHURCHILL, BRITISH POLITICIAN

SAT FOR 95 MINUTES AT A "DOC IN A BOX" TO GET SOME RELIEF FOR MY SINUS INFECTION.

THE DOC HAD AN "ATTITUDE" ABOUT PRESCRIBING ANTIBIOTICS.... 

I THINK I KNOW WHEN I HAVE A SINUS INFECTION.... ODD-COLORED DISCHARGE ~ A VIRUS???  

"REST, FLUIDS, OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDS ~ COME BACK IN FIVE DAYS IF YOU DON'T FEEL BETTER!" 

I DON'T THINK SO ~ I GUESS I HAVE AN "ATTITUDE" ABOUT WHO KNOWS MY BODY BEST!!??! 

(HE FINALLY PRESCRIBED "MEDS" .... WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO START IN FIVE DAYS....) 

ON THE ROAD TO HEALTH.... AND A BETTER ATTITUDE!

WHOOSH! 2010!!

 (taken at Gregoire's Restaurant-Berkeley 11/21/09)

"Time flies. It's up to you to be the navigator."

~ Robert Orben (author, magician) 

 

Starting 2010 w/a sinus infection is NOT good! I'm thinking this is a reminder to practice self-care! more sleep!??! drink more water!! more exercise!!

Planning to get back on my feet so I can STEER the course!