Day 10 of The Challenge...
Songs You Listen To When You Are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad...
Hmmmm...you would think this would be MY kind of question but when you actually have to put certain music to a mood, it gets hard. I don't even think I classify songs for certain moods.
Ok, if I am happy, (which is usually the case), I am dancing, singing, twirling...and the background music can be anything that is fun, funky, fast, loud, upbeat. I can be happy and dance to just about anything!!
Sad...hmmm...I guess if I am sad, the last thing I want to listen to is a bunch of downer music. I may put music on that is a bit more calming than my happy, dancing music. But, sometimes, if you are feeling a bit blue, some upbeat happy music is what you need!!
Bored...who has time to be bored???? Seriously???
Hyped...I am always on some sort of hyper-kick...just watch me at a Dark Star Orchestra concert...:) Again, no set type of songs. Just crazy, upbeat...
Mad...well, if I am really, really mad, I may crank hard core songs...it just depends on the reason I am mad and who I am mad at...
Today's challenge was sort of a bust for readers, huh? In a nutshell, my good time songs tend to be all over the place...it would be easier to list what type of songs I would not be listening to...new country, top 40, syrupy sweet songs...not my thing...
Music should make you groove...
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Every Picture Tells A Story
After a whirlwind weekend of football game, early departure to Kentucky, an entire day of viewing all things college, dinner with my sweet sorority sister and the trip back home, I am getting back in the swing of things. Only to view my week and see it all stacked up with one activity after another. Oh, well...life is never boring!
I am going to continue with my Challenge Of The Day...Today is Day 9 of The Challenge!
Name something that you have been proud of in the past few days...
Well, I could tell you but sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words...
She is my senior, my one and only child, the cheerleader (gasp! Next year she will get a new nickname), she makes me smile, she makes me nuts, she makes me cry tears of joy, she is my hero (c'mon...can you think of anyone who has had back surgery/heart surgery and is still out there cheering and flipping and a grade ahead of where she should be?), this is the cheerleader at her last high school homecoming...sniff, sniff. But, my tears of all her lasts, quickly turn into tears of pride, when I look at the roads that are next to come, in her life. She is my greatest accomplishment!!
I am going to continue with my Challenge Of The Day...Today is Day 9 of The Challenge!
Name something that you have been proud of in the past few days...
Well, I could tell you but sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words...
She is my senior, my one and only child, the cheerleader (gasp! Next year she will get a new nickname), she makes me smile, she makes me nuts, she makes me cry tears of joy, she is my hero (c'mon...can you think of anyone who has had back surgery/heart surgery and is still out there cheering and flipping and a grade ahead of where she should be?), this is the cheerleader at her last high school homecoming...sniff, sniff. But, my tears of all her lasts, quickly turn into tears of pride, when I look at the roads that are next to come, in her life. She is my greatest accomplishment!!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Life In One Day
This is Day 8 of The Challenge...today's question fits in nicely with my upcoming weekend. The cheerleader and I are off to tour one of her fav college choices for the second time and she will fill out her application while we are there. It's an exciting time for her and so I want to be there to encourage, support, cheer and share in her excitement. It's a big deal and I want her to experience all that the next step in her life has to offer!!
Challenge...List your short term goals for the month.
1. Get the college applications filled out and sent.
2. Get senior pictures done.
3. Make my plan for Cosmic Charlie now that the season is over for farmer's market.
4. Get a new display ready for Cosmic Charlie at The Depot and make my fans aware of where to buy their breads and rolls, now.
5. Get my filing and organizing done for my Soroptimist paperwork.
6. Delegate, delegate, delegate (something that is hard for me.)
7. Get the yard and house ready for the end of autumn.
8. Enjoy the days of warm sun, vibrant colors, and Indian summer.
9. Remember to enjoy, to love, to be patient and to be kind.
10. Make each day a personal best!
Challenge...List your short term goals for the month.
1. Get the college applications filled out and sent.
2. Get senior pictures done.
3. Make my plan for Cosmic Charlie now that the season is over for farmer's market.
4. Get a new display ready for Cosmic Charlie at The Depot and make my fans aware of where to buy their breads and rolls, now.
5. Get my filing and organizing done for my Soroptimist paperwork.
6. Delegate, delegate, delegate (something that is hard for me.)
7. Get the yard and house ready for the end of autumn.
8. Enjoy the days of warm sun, vibrant colors, and Indian summer.
9. Remember to enjoy, to love, to be patient and to be kind.
10. Make each day a personal best!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Nights On Broadway
Day 7 of The Challenge...
Post a picture of something or someone that has had the greatest impact on your life.
Hmmmm...the list cannot be just one thing, for me. But, here it is...
I grew up in the midwest, went to college in the south, and then took off for California. I was a flight attendant that chose to make her home base, Los Angeles. I will never forget catching sight of this sign on arrival. I could see the sign from one of my apartments. The thrill, the realization that I had blown the popscicle stand of my hometown and went west. Thrilling!
As a flight attendant, my first trip was from LAX to JFK. The trip that will forever remain in my mind as DISASTER...lol. I was a brand new flight attendant, called out on my first reserve day, to fly as the Number 1 flight attendant. On a DC-10. Full flight. Full cocktail and lunch service. I was near tears as we landed at JFK. Luckily, I had a DYNAMITE cool, eclectic, fun crew...all helpful, all happy to have a novice on board. My tears dried up the minute our cabs hit the city....once again, it took my breath away. I was in the land of magic and could hardly wait to make this city my second home, as often as I could.
Living in Los Angeles, I had a friend who's family owned an apartment in San Francisco. We would spend many weekends, there, exploring, dining, drinking...San Francisco became my fav city of all cities. I felt so overwhelmed to look up the old haunts of what used to be the dwellings and hang outs of so many of my worshipped bands of the 60s. J and I also have a special history in San Francisco. I guess, to sound corny, I could say that I lost my heart TO San Francisco and IN San Francisco...
There have also been people, in my life, that have made big impacts...
J
The cheerleader
My inlaws
My grandparents
My bff from high school
My sorority sisters
Post a picture of something or someone that has had the greatest impact on your life.
Hmmmm...the list cannot be just one thing, for me. But, here it is...
I grew up in the midwest, went to college in the south, and then took off for California. I was a flight attendant that chose to make her home base, Los Angeles. I will never forget catching sight of this sign on arrival. I could see the sign from one of my apartments. The thrill, the realization that I had blown the popscicle stand of my hometown and went west. Thrilling!
As a flight attendant, my first trip was from LAX to JFK. The trip that will forever remain in my mind as DISASTER...lol. I was a brand new flight attendant, called out on my first reserve day, to fly as the Number 1 flight attendant. On a DC-10. Full flight. Full cocktail and lunch service. I was near tears as we landed at JFK. Luckily, I had a DYNAMITE cool, eclectic, fun crew...all helpful, all happy to have a novice on board. My tears dried up the minute our cabs hit the city....once again, it took my breath away. I was in the land of magic and could hardly wait to make this city my second home, as often as I could.
Living in Los Angeles, I had a friend who's family owned an apartment in San Francisco. We would spend many weekends, there, exploring, dining, drinking...San Francisco became my fav city of all cities. I felt so overwhelmed to look up the old haunts of what used to be the dwellings and hang outs of so many of my worshipped bands of the 60s. J and I also have a special history in San Francisco. I guess, to sound corny, I could say that I lost my heart TO San Francisco and IN San Francisco...
There have also been people, in my life, that have made big impacts...
J
The cheerleader
My inlaws
My grandparents
My bff from high school
My sorority sisters
Wheel In The Sky
The past few days have been perfect fallish days. Warm sun, crisp air, perfect temperatures. The kind of days that make you want to be outside just soaking it all up. The colors are starting to multiply and turn into golds, reds, oranges and shimmer as the sun shines throught the leaves on the trees.
In my ever changing moods, I will never end my love affair with autumn. I go nuts for the weather, for the apples, for the fall wardrobe, for football, for chilled mornings that turn into warm afternoons. Fall is where it's at, in my book.
I am lucky enough to have a convertible, as you all may know her as Elle Woods, my pet name for her. And, although J thinks I am crazy, autumn is my fav time to drive her. I like the brisk morning drives with the top down and I like the chilled evening drives. I really love the sunny drives that let you drive through falling leaves. I love to hear the crunch of the leaves as you zip through country roads.
The other day I had a few errands to run and decided to take all country roads to get there. I had the top down, Journey blasting from my Ipod, and I was racing over the crunchy leaves. I was immediately transported back to high school on fall days. I remember the wild abandon that you felt on one of these perfect days when we all raced out and jumped in cars and just drove around. Back then, it's what we did. Jumped into muscle cars of guys and drove. Most of the time, my group of friends would have to quickly return for marching band practice or cheer practice or tennis practice but we had that hour of just reckless (late 70s, we were all reckless) driving in sunshine, letting your hair blow, blaring music and just happy to be a carefree teen with a sunny afternoon on your side.
When I got home and put Elle Woods in her spot in the garage, I just smiled at how a girl can grow up but she doesn't have to grow old. Bring on the sun, I have more roads to conquer!!
In my ever changing moods, I will never end my love affair with autumn. I go nuts for the weather, for the apples, for the fall wardrobe, for football, for chilled mornings that turn into warm afternoons. Fall is where it's at, in my book.
I am lucky enough to have a convertible, as you all may know her as Elle Woods, my pet name for her. And, although J thinks I am crazy, autumn is my fav time to drive her. I like the brisk morning drives with the top down and I like the chilled evening drives. I really love the sunny drives that let you drive through falling leaves. I love to hear the crunch of the leaves as you zip through country roads.
The other day I had a few errands to run and decided to take all country roads to get there. I had the top down, Journey blasting from my Ipod, and I was racing over the crunchy leaves. I was immediately transported back to high school on fall days. I remember the wild abandon that you felt on one of these perfect days when we all raced out and jumped in cars and just drove around. Back then, it's what we did. Jumped into muscle cars of guys and drove. Most of the time, my group of friends would have to quickly return for marching band practice or cheer practice or tennis practice but we had that hour of just reckless (late 70s, we were all reckless) driving in sunshine, letting your hair blow, blaring music and just happy to be a carefree teen with a sunny afternoon on your side.
When I got home and put Elle Woods in her spot in the garage, I just smiled at how a girl can grow up but she doesn't have to grow old. Bring on the sun, I have more roads to conquer!!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Lady Jane
Today is Day 6 of The Challenge...
Who is your favorite super hero?
Well, if you know me, you know this is the only choice for me...Lady Penelope. Lady Penelope of The Thunderbirds fame!!! She was elegant and stunning as a puppet and then came to life on the big screen just as stunning and elegant as a human. She is my kind of lady. My kind of girly-girl fighting crime in a pink car, in a mansion, her hair is never out of place, she wears kick-arse clothes and hats and is the ultimate in GIRL POWER!!!
And, no tribute to Lady Penelope would be complete without the classic Thunderbirds montage....
And so I thought an elegant song to toast Lady Penelope would be one of my favs, Lady Jane...I always thought the title, Lady Pamela would be nice. Maybe I should become a super hero!!
Who is your favorite super hero?
Well, if you know me, you know this is the only choice for me...Lady Penelope. Lady Penelope of The Thunderbirds fame!!! She was elegant and stunning as a puppet and then came to life on the big screen just as stunning and elegant as a human. She is my kind of lady. My kind of girly-girl fighting crime in a pink car, in a mansion, her hair is never out of place, she wears kick-arse clothes and hats and is the ultimate in GIRL POWER!!!
And, no tribute to Lady Penelope would be complete without the classic Thunderbirds montage....
And so I thought an elegant song to toast Lady Penelope would be one of my favs, Lady Jane...I always thought the title, Lady Pamela would be nice. Maybe I should become a super hero!!
Monday, October 11, 2010
White Rabbit
If you enjoy me, here, at My Ever Changing Moods, make sure to follow me on my newly launched sister blog,here,as I ramble around the kitchen. My Ever Changing Moods and Pamela In Kitchenland...twice the fun!
Follow my rambling thoughts AND feed your head!!
Follow my rambling thoughts AND feed your head!!
Welcome To Miami
Day 5 of The Challenge....
Post a picture of a place where you have visited.
A picture of South Beach....as you all know, we used to live in Florida and still go back, yearly, for winter vacays. Miami and South Beach are usual stops for us. I love the sights, sounds, foods and attire that come with visiting Miami. It's an electric city full of an energy known only to South Florida. South Beach is one of my fav areas for shopping and people watching. The pastels and neon all meet up to offer the backdrop of lights for nightlife, there. There is no other coffee quite like Cuban coffee. The cuisine it tropcial/ethnic/soulful....to me, Miami is one of my fav cities to visit. And, to be out on the water approaching the Miami skyline is so exciting!! As the skyline gets closer, you can't help but belt out, Welcome To Miami!!
Post a picture of a place where you have visited.
A picture of South Beach....as you all know, we used to live in Florida and still go back, yearly, for winter vacays. Miami and South Beach are usual stops for us. I love the sights, sounds, foods and attire that come with visiting Miami. It's an electric city full of an energy known only to South Florida. South Beach is one of my fav areas for shopping and people watching. The pastels and neon all meet up to offer the backdrop of lights for nightlife, there. There is no other coffee quite like Cuban coffee. The cuisine it tropcial/ethnic/soulful....to me, Miami is one of my fav cities to visit. And, to be out on the water approaching the Miami skyline is so exciting!! As the skyline gets closer, you can't help but belt out, Welcome To Miami!!
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Yesterday was a beautiful day and now that the month of October has hit, that means our business is now closed on Sundays and J gets some much needed down time on a Sunday. It was sooooo nice outside that we decided to get a few things taken care of that can only be done with his help.
One of the things needing to be done, one last time for the season, was to trim all of the surrounding bushes and landscape. I was on the front porch, supervising, and my eye caught sight of a very old, very antique wicker rocker that sits in one corner. This rocker had been handed down and handed down on my side of the family. I got it when I was living in an old historic aparment and needed a chair for my terrace area. I was given this when my grandfather was cleaning out his garage. Since I was in my early 20's, I really didn't care about the history or where it came from. Yesterday, I saw it in a whole new light. I was drawn to the shredded fabric and I started thinking that it was time to find new fabric to cover the cushions. As I continued to inspect the rips and tears, I found layers and layers and layers of fabrics that had been used, for the same purpose, over the years. Nobody had ever just stripped the entire fabric off to start fresh. They just continued to upholster over each pattern. I was able to expose enough different patterns to form a sort of kaleidoscope of colors, shapes and patterns. I started to make up all sorts of stories, in my head, for each piece of fabric. I wondered about the year, the time in history, the person who chose that particular fabric. Did it come from a bolt of fabric, a worn dress, a worn shirt, did the paisley print come from some sort of boho skirt?
In my ever changing moods, I no longer have anyone left in my family to answer these questions for me. I have no idea how old this chair is. I don't know how many family members used it before it found it's home with me. Who sat in this chair? What has this chair seen? I would like to think that some of the fabrics used came from my chair sitting in the Haight, for a period of time in the 60s, or at a big farmhouse that housed groups of friends all living, cooking and making music, together. Maybe people sat in it while watching monumental changes in history take place. Maybe the fabrics were recovered from fellow fashionistas that came before me. I started to wonder if maybe I was rocked, as a baby, in this chair by my own grandmother? I will never know. I will never have the answers.
The rip in the chair and the exposed layers of fabric seemed so symbolic, to me, this weekend. I had an unpleasant encounter, of sorts, with a family member. The type of encounter was nothing new but for some reason, it transported me, back in time, to where I was young and felt let down and disappointed for the millionith time. One more time, my feelings were hurt and felt like a big rip in my soul. I used to just daydream and look at life through rose colored or happy glasses. I would tell myself that someday, I would find peace and love. I was the girl with kaleidoscope eyes. So when I glanced down and studied this fabric, I knew that it could be mended, I knew that it could go on to bigger and better things and I knew that with a bit of love and preserving of the existing layers, it would continue on it's journey for the next generation lucky enough to have the chair handed down to them.
Maybe it possesses a sort of magic that falls on each person as they become the next girl with kaleidoscope eyes in need of a bit of magic...
One of the things needing to be done, one last time for the season, was to trim all of the surrounding bushes and landscape. I was on the front porch, supervising, and my eye caught sight of a very old, very antique wicker rocker that sits in one corner. This rocker had been handed down and handed down on my side of the family. I got it when I was living in an old historic aparment and needed a chair for my terrace area. I was given this when my grandfather was cleaning out his garage. Since I was in my early 20's, I really didn't care about the history or where it came from. Yesterday, I saw it in a whole new light. I was drawn to the shredded fabric and I started thinking that it was time to find new fabric to cover the cushions. As I continued to inspect the rips and tears, I found layers and layers and layers of fabrics that had been used, for the same purpose, over the years. Nobody had ever just stripped the entire fabric off to start fresh. They just continued to upholster over each pattern. I was able to expose enough different patterns to form a sort of kaleidoscope of colors, shapes and patterns. I started to make up all sorts of stories, in my head, for each piece of fabric. I wondered about the year, the time in history, the person who chose that particular fabric. Did it come from a bolt of fabric, a worn dress, a worn shirt, did the paisley print come from some sort of boho skirt?
In my ever changing moods, I no longer have anyone left in my family to answer these questions for me. I have no idea how old this chair is. I don't know how many family members used it before it found it's home with me. Who sat in this chair? What has this chair seen? I would like to think that some of the fabrics used came from my chair sitting in the Haight, for a period of time in the 60s, or at a big farmhouse that housed groups of friends all living, cooking and making music, together. Maybe people sat in it while watching monumental changes in history take place. Maybe the fabrics were recovered from fellow fashionistas that came before me. I started to wonder if maybe I was rocked, as a baby, in this chair by my own grandmother? I will never know. I will never have the answers.
The rip in the chair and the exposed layers of fabric seemed so symbolic, to me, this weekend. I had an unpleasant encounter, of sorts, with a family member. The type of encounter was nothing new but for some reason, it transported me, back in time, to where I was young and felt let down and disappointed for the millionith time. One more time, my feelings were hurt and felt like a big rip in my soul. I used to just daydream and look at life through rose colored or happy glasses. I would tell myself that someday, I would find peace and love. I was the girl with kaleidoscope eyes. So when I glanced down and studied this fabric, I knew that it could be mended, I knew that it could go on to bigger and better things and I knew that with a bit of love and preserving of the existing layers, it would continue on it's journey for the next generation lucky enough to have the chair handed down to them.
Maybe it possesses a sort of magic that falls on each person as they become the next girl with kaleidoscope eyes in need of a bit of magic...
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Talk, Talk
Day 4 of The Challenge...(I am extremely busy with baking for the coffee house, baking for farmer's market, getting ready for a cheerleader sleepover, tonight, and making desserts for 20 cheerleaders, tomorrow and yes...Homecoming...anyway, short and sweet, today..)
Day 4...What is an annoying habit that you have?
I have a tendency, when I am totally overloaded, to verbally begin running down every play by play that I have to do. J gets a glazed over look and just says...You are doing it, again. If I find myself doing it to other people, I simply tell myself to zip it. So, on a day like today, be glad you are not spending the day with me or you would be getting the entire run down of every step I need to make.
Day 4...What is an annoying habit that you have?
I have a tendency, when I am totally overloaded, to verbally begin running down every play by play that I have to do. J gets a glazed over look and just says...You are doing it, again. If I find myself doing it to other people, I simply tell myself to zip it. So, on a day like today, be glad you are not spending the day with me or you would be getting the entire run down of every step I need to make.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Atomic Dog
Day 3 of The Challenge!!
Today's challenge is to post a picture of me with a friend. I am going to post a picture from the weekend with two friends. I have a lot of friends and a lot of pictures with them but this was just captured and since I blogged about meeting up with sorority sisters over last weekend, here is a pic of three of us. Virginia is on the left, I am in the middle, and Stef is on the right.
When we pledged our sorority, back in the 80s, we were promised friendship bonds to last a lifetime...and I think that must be true...
To round out this reunion picture is Atomic Dog...at our college, when the DJ put this song on at Dime Draft, on a Friday night, you knew where to find your friends and sorority sisters...on the dance floor!!
Today's challenge is to post a picture of me with a friend. I am going to post a picture from the weekend with two friends. I have a lot of friends and a lot of pictures with them but this was just captured and since I blogged about meeting up with sorority sisters over last weekend, here is a pic of three of us. Virginia is on the left, I am in the middle, and Stef is on the right.
When we pledged our sorority, back in the 80s, we were promised friendship bonds to last a lifetime...and I think that must be true...
To round out this reunion picture is Atomic Dog...at our college, when the DJ put this song on at Dime Draft, on a Friday night, you knew where to find your friends and sorority sisters...on the dance floor!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
My Ever Changing Moods
Today is Day 2 of The Challenge...
What is the meaning behind your blog name?
When I decided to start this blog, last February, I was beginning a new journey in my life. I am the mom of an only and that only was beginning to spread her wings. She got her driver's license, she was growing up and growing more independent. My job as full time driver/calendar monitor/planner/even nutritionist was starting to change. She needed me and yet she didn't need me. I fought it, at first, but then when I took a step back, I saw the independent butterfly that was emerging and ready to take life on, on her own terms. I had no choice...I had to give her a bit of independence. But, it also meant that I had to question what was next for me? Who was I now? Where was I going? How did I get here? Did I like me? Where was I taking my life?
You see, mothers of an only are different from mother's of multiple kids. Our only is our life. Not so much in the helicopter sense but the only is the only one we have to focus on. We get used to being there, only for them. Hey...how many times can I use the word, only?? So, when that mom isn't looking, the only grows up. My only is a very mature only because she has been raised by J and myself and we never really baby-downed to her. We communicated on a more adult level, she was my only child and I was a SAHM so she and I spent hours and hours reading books, playing games, building skills, working on word problems and all of that fun stuff. By preschool, she was rocking and rolling and bored. So, she tested out and went to K when she was 4. She has never looked back. It was all good until she decided that she was grown up, last year. But, it happens and it is bittersweet and you are proud. And then you look at life.
So, I had all kinds of emotions and had all kinds of thoughts running through my head and had all kinds of paths to travel, things to conquer, and interests to explore. Many moods to dwell on. My ever changing moods.
Here I am, 7 months later, and my life has changed totally!! I have my business, I am out in the community making new contacts, building a name, became president of my women's group, I am in control and taking charge and loving every minute of it.
So, the only is now a senior and the college applications are looming. Senior pictures are being scheduled and this year presents a lot of last times. But, I am looking at it all with a new sense of purpose and a new sense of empowerment. I know that in my ever changing moods, there isn't much that I can't take on!!
This blog and the name behind this blog have been a great help in taking all of the new steps and the new steps to come. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
What is the meaning behind your blog name?
When I decided to start this blog, last February, I was beginning a new journey in my life. I am the mom of an only and that only was beginning to spread her wings. She got her driver's license, she was growing up and growing more independent. My job as full time driver/calendar monitor/planner/even nutritionist was starting to change. She needed me and yet she didn't need me. I fought it, at first, but then when I took a step back, I saw the independent butterfly that was emerging and ready to take life on, on her own terms. I had no choice...I had to give her a bit of independence. But, it also meant that I had to question what was next for me? Who was I now? Where was I going? How did I get here? Did I like me? Where was I taking my life?
You see, mothers of an only are different from mother's of multiple kids. Our only is our life. Not so much in the helicopter sense but the only is the only one we have to focus on. We get used to being there, only for them. Hey...how many times can I use the word, only?? So, when that mom isn't looking, the only grows up. My only is a very mature only because she has been raised by J and myself and we never really baby-downed to her. We communicated on a more adult level, she was my only child and I was a SAHM so she and I spent hours and hours reading books, playing games, building skills, working on word problems and all of that fun stuff. By preschool, she was rocking and rolling and bored. So, she tested out and went to K when she was 4. She has never looked back. It was all good until she decided that she was grown up, last year. But, it happens and it is bittersweet and you are proud. And then you look at life.
So, I had all kinds of emotions and had all kinds of thoughts running through my head and had all kinds of paths to travel, things to conquer, and interests to explore. Many moods to dwell on. My ever changing moods.
Here I am, 7 months later, and my life has changed totally!! I have my business, I am out in the community making new contacts, building a name, became president of my women's group, I am in control and taking charge and loving every minute of it.
So, the only is now a senior and the college applications are looming. Senior pictures are being scheduled and this year presents a lot of last times. But, I am looking at it all with a new sense of purpose and a new sense of empowerment. I know that in my ever changing moods, there isn't much that I can't take on!!
This blog and the name behind this blog have been a great help in taking all of the new steps and the new steps to come. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Monday, September 27, 2010
She's A Woman
Today begins my 30 Challenge for my blog. I hope I can keep up the pace for 30 days!!
In my ever changing moods, I finally feel like I am back in the swing of things with life, business, blog, senior year....so, to kick off my reclaiming of my blog, this seems like a great idea!!! The idea came from some Tumblr.com blogs...interesting place, Tumblr.com...I wish I could figure out how to use it, lol.
Ok...Day 1 Challenge...Post a recent picture of yourself and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
1. When I was young, I wanted to change my name to Debbie or Marcia.
2. I always wonder what I would say to my father if I ever saw him, again.
3. Until I got married, I made all of my friends, my family.
4. I used to want to be a famous singer.
5. I am obsessed with fashion magazines.
6. Music sets the tone for everything that I do.
7. After I had my daughter, my heart felt complete.
8. I am happy that I have taken chances and risks and leaps of faith, my whole life.
9. I am very content being by myself, at times.
10. I hope that I make my husband as happy as he makes me.
11. I always wanted to be a hippie and live in the Haight-Ashbury section in the 60s.
12. I like to think positive thoughts, at all times.
13. I miss my grandmother.
14. I get excited about an event just so I can plan my outfit.
15. The older I get, I have learned not to worry about the small stuff.
In my ever changing moods, I finally feel like I am back in the swing of things with life, business, blog, senior year....so, to kick off my reclaiming of my blog, this seems like a great idea!!! The idea came from some Tumblr.com blogs...interesting place, Tumblr.com...I wish I could figure out how to use it, lol.
Ok...Day 1 Challenge...Post a recent picture of yourself and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
1. When I was young, I wanted to change my name to Debbie or Marcia.
2. I always wonder what I would say to my father if I ever saw him, again.
3. Until I got married, I made all of my friends, my family.
4. I used to want to be a famous singer.
5. I am obsessed with fashion magazines.
6. Music sets the tone for everything that I do.
7. After I had my daughter, my heart felt complete.
8. I am happy that I have taken chances and risks and leaps of faith, my whole life.
9. I am very content being by myself, at times.
10. I hope that I make my husband as happy as he makes me.
11. I always wanted to be a hippie and live in the Haight-Ashbury section in the 60s.
12. I like to think positive thoughts, at all times.
13. I miss my grandmother.
14. I get excited about an event just so I can plan my outfit.
15. The older I get, I have learned not to worry about the small stuff.
Box Of Rain
This past weekend I had the pleasure of escaping to Cincinnati and reuniting with some of my sorority sisters from college. We try to do this off and on and the time that I spend with them is so special to me.
In my ever changing moods, I think some of the strongest bonds of friendship are made in college. Someone, last week, asked me why these girls are any different from any of my other friends. I really thought about that and then it hit me. These were the friends that I met along the way of paving my first paths of independence. Our times spent in those 4+ years were some of the best memories that I carry in my heart. For me, college was all about the experiences, the learning, the failures, the excitement of living on your own, the bonds that brought us together, in our sorority.
After college, our paths all took us in different directions and we went years without any contact. There were weddings, in the beginning, and we were bridesmaids and then brides and then life took all of us on our next journey, after college.
The past few years have reunited me with some of my closest pals and when we get together, we laugh, we yell, we consume cocktails, we try to retrace different stories from college. We talk about our old crushes, our old humiliations, our sisterhood and our lives, now. Most of us have kids already in college or kids approaching college. We talk about our hopes for them to have the same experience that we had.
Time has been good to all of us and as we sat around the table at the restuarant, enjoying fine wine, instead of our old Dime Draft standbys or our Tequila Sunrises, I loved looking around, in the candlelight, at the beautiful faces that were some of my first female influences that helped to shape me. Thank you, girls, for a lovely time.
College...to me, is like this song says...Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there. And, I was so happy that I was there, on campus, in the early to mid 80s, forming friendships with girls over sorority songs, candlelight ceremonies, rush madness, broken hearts, crushes, classes, all night study sessions and downtown bar trolling...It was a time that could never be duplicated and lives on in my heart.
In my ever changing moods, I think some of the strongest bonds of friendship are made in college. Someone, last week, asked me why these girls are any different from any of my other friends. I really thought about that and then it hit me. These were the friends that I met along the way of paving my first paths of independence. Our times spent in those 4+ years were some of the best memories that I carry in my heart. For me, college was all about the experiences, the learning, the failures, the excitement of living on your own, the bonds that brought us together, in our sorority.
After college, our paths all took us in different directions and we went years without any contact. There were weddings, in the beginning, and we were bridesmaids and then brides and then life took all of us on our next journey, after college.
The past few years have reunited me with some of my closest pals and when we get together, we laugh, we yell, we consume cocktails, we try to retrace different stories from college. We talk about our old crushes, our old humiliations, our sisterhood and our lives, now. Most of us have kids already in college or kids approaching college. We talk about our hopes for them to have the same experience that we had.
Time has been good to all of us and as we sat around the table at the restuarant, enjoying fine wine, instead of our old Dime Draft standbys or our Tequila Sunrises, I loved looking around, in the candlelight, at the beautiful faces that were some of my first female influences that helped to shape me. Thank you, girls, for a lovely time.
College...to me, is like this song says...Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there. And, I was so happy that I was there, on campus, in the early to mid 80s, forming friendships with girls over sorority songs, candlelight ceremonies, rush madness, broken hearts, crushes, classes, all night study sessions and downtown bar trolling...It was a time that could never be duplicated and lives on in my heart.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Going Down The Road Feeling Bad
This has definitely described my week, this week!! I have been sailing down the road full steam ahead and then bam, out of nowhere, I was hit buy some sort of unglam stomach illness. That lasted 4 days. Not good.
In my ever changing moods, my life can no longer handle illness. As the mom of a senior, a new business owner and a president of a group that depends on me, this illness thing is a total buzz kill, drag, time waster.
Of course, I always seem to jinx myself to get sick. I start thinking, wow, so happy that I haven't been sick and even when everyone around me is sick, I am NOT sick. Two days later....hello sickness.
I have been running like crazy, though, so my body may not have been at it's peak in the germ fighting department. I am well, now, though, and that is all that counts.
So, that explains one week of no blogging. My exploding Cosmic Charlie Bread business is another reason. Between baking for the coffee house, stocking my displays at the coffee house, farmer's market and special orders, ordering tshirts, and venturing into even more fab Cosmic oppportunities, each time I want to sit and blog, my time just gets away from me.
And, on top of it all is senior year. We are one week away form homecoming so we have been dress shopping, shoe shopping, the cheerleader is in charge of spirit week and the week will also be filled with hair appointments, nail appointments, pep rallies and then the meltdown that will happen on Friday morning. The meltdown happens, each year. I am prepared for it. I usually have a little gift to give to her just to brighten her mood on meltdown day.
Senior pictures are staring us in the face and I am sure it will be another stress fest of a week. Basically, what I have learned, so far being a senior mom, is that everything is highly dramatic, over the top, emotional, stressful. When she doesn't have a million things going on plus cheer competitions, plus school work, she is biting her nails over sending out college applications. I really do not remember stressing at all in my senior year. I just rode the tides and let life take me where it wanted. That was 1982, this is 2010, soon to be 2011. Senior life is much different. Senior life makes senior mom wonder if her cases of wine will get her through the stress filled year.
So, this is what makes up my life, right now. But, since I miss my blog and I miss my readers and I miss randomly writing about the thoughts in my head, I hope to visit more. In fact, when I was sick, I was looking through some cool blogs on Tumblr.com. There seems to be a challenge happening with some of them to keep up the blogging pace. I don't care so much about the pace but the daily questions seemed interesting so in order to keep my fingers moving on the keyboard, I think I will start my own, personal, 30 day challenge, each day. Could be fun.
Hope you all have been well and as for me, I was going down the road just fine until I started feeling bad. Stay well, stay happy, stay caught up in your ever changing moods.
In my ever changing moods, my life can no longer handle illness. As the mom of a senior, a new business owner and a president of a group that depends on me, this illness thing is a total buzz kill, drag, time waster.
Of course, I always seem to jinx myself to get sick. I start thinking, wow, so happy that I haven't been sick and even when everyone around me is sick, I am NOT sick. Two days later....hello sickness.
I have been running like crazy, though, so my body may not have been at it's peak in the germ fighting department. I am well, now, though, and that is all that counts.
So, that explains one week of no blogging. My exploding Cosmic Charlie Bread business is another reason. Between baking for the coffee house, stocking my displays at the coffee house, farmer's market and special orders, ordering tshirts, and venturing into even more fab Cosmic oppportunities, each time I want to sit and blog, my time just gets away from me.
And, on top of it all is senior year. We are one week away form homecoming so we have been dress shopping, shoe shopping, the cheerleader is in charge of spirit week and the week will also be filled with hair appointments, nail appointments, pep rallies and then the meltdown that will happen on Friday morning. The meltdown happens, each year. I am prepared for it. I usually have a little gift to give to her just to brighten her mood on meltdown day.
Senior pictures are staring us in the face and I am sure it will be another stress fest of a week. Basically, what I have learned, so far being a senior mom, is that everything is highly dramatic, over the top, emotional, stressful. When she doesn't have a million things going on plus cheer competitions, plus school work, she is biting her nails over sending out college applications. I really do not remember stressing at all in my senior year. I just rode the tides and let life take me where it wanted. That was 1982, this is 2010, soon to be 2011. Senior life is much different. Senior life makes senior mom wonder if her cases of wine will get her through the stress filled year.
So, this is what makes up my life, right now. But, since I miss my blog and I miss my readers and I miss randomly writing about the thoughts in my head, I hope to visit more. In fact, when I was sick, I was looking through some cool blogs on Tumblr.com. There seems to be a challenge happening with some of them to keep up the blogging pace. I don't care so much about the pace but the daily questions seemed interesting so in order to keep my fingers moving on the keyboard, I think I will start my own, personal, 30 day challenge, each day. Could be fun.
Hope you all have been well and as for me, I was going down the road just fine until I started feeling bad. Stay well, stay happy, stay caught up in your ever changing moods.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Boys Of Summer
While I don't like to admit it, each year, this is the time that summer starts to wind down. You can tell it by the sun, by the shadows, by the soft breezes that no longer feel like poolside breezes but more like autumn breezes. My garden containers have just about given me all of the fresh tomatoes that they have to give and leaves are starting to wither away.
In my ever changing moods, no matter how much I look forward to summer and enjoy the three months of really great summer weather and fun in the sun, I am an autumn girl at heart. Most people feel renewal in the spring and while I have to admit, after some of the past winters we have gone through, I have been sooo happy so have spring come to visit, but my renewal comes in the autumn. I love the crisp colors, the chill to the air, the still warm sun that doesn't fry you but just sort of glows on you. I love the orchards opening and the cider drinking and all of the fall festivals. I love the warm tones to the evening sun and the shifting from grilled summer foods to rich and vibrant autumn foods. Yes, I eat for the seasons and yes, in my world there is summer food, autumn food, winter food and spring food.
Today seemed to kiss the summer one more time before we drift further into fall. School started for us and that meant the cheerleader gave up her carefree days to assume the role of a senior!! She is excited and we are excited but inside, I am already a bit teary at all the lasts that are headed our way. Today, was our last first day of school picture. As I sit and stare at it, I see a very confident and excited girl in the picture. Much like her kindergarten picture. She was so excited on her first day of kindergarten and so confident that she would remember her alphabet and her counting and her songs.
Today also found the cheerleader getting a call from a local place for a job interview, tomorrow. She is so excited because except for babysitting, this will be her first job! J and I are excited to see her take on a bit more responsibility and to learn how to deal with the public. She is excited at making a bit of extra spending money.
The start of school also saw the closing of Hotel California, here at Maggie's Farm. Not for good but not the everyday comings and goings of teen girls who came to eat at Alice's Restaurant and hang out until they migrated off to swim or shop or hang out with other friends.
This autumn finds me with a whole different life than I had, last fall. My own little business is flourishing, I have been written about in the paper, people are special ordering, the coffee house and I have a nice bread relationship and I am now an active member of vendors at our downtown farm markets on Saturdays. My breads all sell out and the reviews have been great! I have business cards and a menu and a following.
J and I are starting to talk about next year when it's just the two of us. We talk about how I will then be able to pick up with him and travel and I am hoping that my business is going strong and that the cheerleader picks a college and is happy there.
Autumn always brings good things and this autumn is bringing change, excitement, bittersweet moments and a feeling that all things are possible.
Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer
Uploaded by rvdgu2006. - Explore more music videos.
In my ever changing moods, no matter how much I look forward to summer and enjoy the three months of really great summer weather and fun in the sun, I am an autumn girl at heart. Most people feel renewal in the spring and while I have to admit, after some of the past winters we have gone through, I have been sooo happy so have spring come to visit, but my renewal comes in the autumn. I love the crisp colors, the chill to the air, the still warm sun that doesn't fry you but just sort of glows on you. I love the orchards opening and the cider drinking and all of the fall festivals. I love the warm tones to the evening sun and the shifting from grilled summer foods to rich and vibrant autumn foods. Yes, I eat for the seasons and yes, in my world there is summer food, autumn food, winter food and spring food.
Today seemed to kiss the summer one more time before we drift further into fall. School started for us and that meant the cheerleader gave up her carefree days to assume the role of a senior!! She is excited and we are excited but inside, I am already a bit teary at all the lasts that are headed our way. Today, was our last first day of school picture. As I sit and stare at it, I see a very confident and excited girl in the picture. Much like her kindergarten picture. She was so excited on her first day of kindergarten and so confident that she would remember her alphabet and her counting and her songs.
Today also found the cheerleader getting a call from a local place for a job interview, tomorrow. She is so excited because except for babysitting, this will be her first job! J and I are excited to see her take on a bit more responsibility and to learn how to deal with the public. She is excited at making a bit of extra spending money.
The start of school also saw the closing of Hotel California, here at Maggie's Farm. Not for good but not the everyday comings and goings of teen girls who came to eat at Alice's Restaurant and hang out until they migrated off to swim or shop or hang out with other friends.
This autumn finds me with a whole different life than I had, last fall. My own little business is flourishing, I have been written about in the paper, people are special ordering, the coffee house and I have a nice bread relationship and I am now an active member of vendors at our downtown farm markets on Saturdays. My breads all sell out and the reviews have been great! I have business cards and a menu and a following.
J and I are starting to talk about next year when it's just the two of us. We talk about how I will then be able to pick up with him and travel and I am hoping that my business is going strong and that the cheerleader picks a college and is happy there.
Autumn always brings good things and this autumn is bringing change, excitement, bittersweet moments and a feeling that all things are possible.
Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer
Uploaded by rvdgu2006. - Explore more music videos.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Once In A Lifetime
It has been a busy few days and I am now trying to regroup with large amounts of coffee. It has been a good busy but busy still the same. Today is the day that once again, I proclaim to take back my laundry room while getting lost in the abyss that is the cheerleader's room and trying to brush the matted fur of the world's oddest cat.
In my ever changing moods, today is when I tend to all things domestic that have been neglected. Why is it that when you turn your back, the first thing that seems to mock you is the laundry? And, how does it multiply so quickly? In such a short amount of time? In my mind, this is one of life's great mysteries...figure it out and you will be my best friend for life!
The reason for the mocking laundry is that my little baking/bread business has been going really well and then this past weekend, I branched out and tested the waters downtown at the town's local farmer's market. GREAT response!! My products all sold out and I hope that in the process, I was able to send even more business to the local coffeehouse that serves my breads. I even had to take special orders that I will be delivering, today. It is all so exciting and so fulfilling!! I didn't even know that I was looking for this when I started down the road of self discovery. I mean, seriously, 6 months ago, I ran in terror at the thought of baking anything more complicated than a pan of brownies. I have said this before but I CAN bake...it just scares me.
So, who knew that when my friend, C, answered my plea for help in the baking of bread, and her kicking me in the rear and telling me to just do it, would I love all things dough, so much? My love grew and my family was in love with me for giving them freshly baked rolls, breads and sweets. Then, somehow, things escalated and I fell into a GREAT gig with the coffeehouse, am forming a really nice friendship in the process with S, the owner, and now I am also all over town and taking special orders.
Yesterday, I designed business cards and labels...I know...who am I ???? It is great fun but the best part is that I am carving out my own business, with my own theme, as my own boss and I hope that this is only the beginning of more great things to come!
I was working in the yard, yesterday, and thinking that everything that has ever happened in my life has not come with a lot of planning. Things just seem to show up in unexpected ways and I decide to jump on and see where the ride is going to take me. This is one of those times. I try to always experience whatever comes my way because so many opportunities don't knock twice. Sometimes you really do just have to jump in, feet first, and ask yourself...How did I get here?
For all of my fans, here, I have a Facebook page set up for my new venture. If you want to follow me on that, just look for me at Cosmic Charlie Baking and Bread...it will take you right to my fan page. I was going to tie it in with a second blog but right now, a fan page is what I can handle.
In my ever changing moods, today is when I tend to all things domestic that have been neglected. Why is it that when you turn your back, the first thing that seems to mock you is the laundry? And, how does it multiply so quickly? In such a short amount of time? In my mind, this is one of life's great mysteries...figure it out and you will be my best friend for life!
The reason for the mocking laundry is that my little baking/bread business has been going really well and then this past weekend, I branched out and tested the waters downtown at the town's local farmer's market. GREAT response!! My products all sold out and I hope that in the process, I was able to send even more business to the local coffeehouse that serves my breads. I even had to take special orders that I will be delivering, today. It is all so exciting and so fulfilling!! I didn't even know that I was looking for this when I started down the road of self discovery. I mean, seriously, 6 months ago, I ran in terror at the thought of baking anything more complicated than a pan of brownies. I have said this before but I CAN bake...it just scares me.
So, who knew that when my friend, C, answered my plea for help in the baking of bread, and her kicking me in the rear and telling me to just do it, would I love all things dough, so much? My love grew and my family was in love with me for giving them freshly baked rolls, breads and sweets. Then, somehow, things escalated and I fell into a GREAT gig with the coffeehouse, am forming a really nice friendship in the process with S, the owner, and now I am also all over town and taking special orders.
Yesterday, I designed business cards and labels...I know...who am I ???? It is great fun but the best part is that I am carving out my own business, with my own theme, as my own boss and I hope that this is only the beginning of more great things to come!
I was working in the yard, yesterday, and thinking that everything that has ever happened in my life has not come with a lot of planning. Things just seem to show up in unexpected ways and I decide to jump on and see where the ride is going to take me. This is one of those times. I try to always experience whatever comes my way because so many opportunities don't knock twice. Sometimes you really do just have to jump in, feet first, and ask yourself...How did I get here?
For all of my fans, here, I have a Facebook page set up for my new venture. If you want to follow me on that, just look for me at Cosmic Charlie Baking and Bread...it will take you right to my fan page. I was going to tie it in with a second blog but right now, a fan page is what I can handle.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Loving You
The world of my every changing moods has gotten so busy, lately. My new business is taking off and not only am I doing my original gig for my baking, but I am taking in special orders from emails and am getting ready to set up, this Saturday, downtown, with my baked yumminess!! Add to the chaos is the cheerleader and her non-stop cheer practices and comings and goings and end of the summer doctor appointments and the excitement of starting her senior year and constant chatter about senior pictures, graduation announcements, games, college applications and just the general senior thrill.
J has been busy with his own projects that find him out in his garage until all hours of the night, right now. In the evenings, if I am doing baking, here, and he is outside in the garage, I find myself running out to help him, between oven timers ringing. Last night, I was running back and forth in my little baking apron. I was like a baking garage/grease monkey.
Anyway, once I was finishing up and he came inside and still had not had dinner at 11pm and he looked so tired and was watching me finish up my baking project, I looked at him and was just so filled with love and appreciation. He works so hard and he is so patient with two crazy girls running through the house. He helps me with all of my new ventures and offers support and help. He listens, endlessly, to the cheerleader and her newest high dramatics and never ending teen sagas. He can look so tired but still indulge me while I blab on and on about new baking orders or a certain display I am working on. He takes the time to help me decide on a business logo. He stops and listens about my upcoming presidency in my women's group, he gives advice, he reads things for me to make sure that what I am sending out to people sounds right.
We are often running past each other most days. We give quick hugs and quick kisses and we keep moving. We are not corny, cheesey romantics...we just know that we love each other and are there for each other. But, sometimes, like last night, with both of us helping the other, my heart fills with so much love and so much appreciation that I have him as a friend, partner, love.
J has been busy with his own projects that find him out in his garage until all hours of the night, right now. In the evenings, if I am doing baking, here, and he is outside in the garage, I find myself running out to help him, between oven timers ringing. Last night, I was running back and forth in my little baking apron. I was like a baking garage/grease monkey.
Anyway, once I was finishing up and he came inside and still had not had dinner at 11pm and he looked so tired and was watching me finish up my baking project, I looked at him and was just so filled with love and appreciation. He works so hard and he is so patient with two crazy girls running through the house. He helps me with all of my new ventures and offers support and help. He listens, endlessly, to the cheerleader and her newest high dramatics and never ending teen sagas. He can look so tired but still indulge me while I blab on and on about new baking orders or a certain display I am working on. He takes the time to help me decide on a business logo. He stops and listens about my upcoming presidency in my women's group, he gives advice, he reads things for me to make sure that what I am sending out to people sounds right.
We are often running past each other most days. We give quick hugs and quick kisses and we keep moving. We are not corny, cheesey romantics...we just know that we love each other and are there for each other. But, sometimes, like last night, with both of us helping the other, my heart fills with so much love and so much appreciation that I have him as a friend, partner, love.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Today
In all of my excitement about reclaiming my life after goats and fair, I forgot to do my weekend post of what I am reading, watching, listening to....
Since the past few weeks have been all about Jerry Garcia, for me, and his birthday and the anniversary of his passing, I decided to re-read this book...
It's summer so that means it is Mad Men time for me!! My favorite show on television...I get lost in each episode and find myself watching them over and over.
When it is Mad Men season, I find myself wanting to plan lots of cocktail soirees. I found this album to download. How cool is the music to stand around and enjoy martinis at a lounge themed soiree??
And, the song that I chose for this blog post? The Smashing Pumpkins, Today. I have found myself totally going through all of my cds and cassettes of 90s music, lately. The Smashing Pumpkins were one of my fav groups of the time...
Since the past few weeks have been all about Jerry Garcia, for me, and his birthday and the anniversary of his passing, I decided to re-read this book...
It's summer so that means it is Mad Men time for me!! My favorite show on television...I get lost in each episode and find myself watching them over and over.
When it is Mad Men season, I find myself wanting to plan lots of cocktail soirees. I found this album to download. How cool is the music to stand around and enjoy martinis at a lounge themed soiree??
And, the song that I chose for this blog post? The Smashing Pumpkins, Today. I have found myself totally going through all of my cds and cassettes of 90s music, lately. The Smashing Pumpkins were one of my fav groups of the time...
Love Song
Just when I thought the weekend would be a quiet one, it changed. It started out peaceful and quiet with me cheering the end of fair. The cheerleader moved home, brought 100 pounds of laundry, fell asleep and planned to just spend a quiet afternoon and evening at home. That lasted up until she woke from her afternoon nap. The cheerleader is not a relaxing sort of girl and once she fuels up on sleep and food, she becomes restless. So, she made plans to go pick her pal, M, up for a quick shopping trip. She left, I was happy with the silence, and started the laundry. Not long after, she called me to say that she and M were leaving M's house to go meet their other pal, H, who had just gotten jilted by her boyfriend. For another friend of theirs. Cue the high drama music. Make way for the tears. I told them to be careful and to make sure that H didn't drive if she was too upset.
J came home, we were enjoying a quiet evening of nothingness and all of a sudden Maggie's Farm erupted in fireworks. Yes, the three amigos came busting in, all on fire with the rage, angst, revenge of a teen heart broken.
In my ever changing moods, I was suddenly transported back to my own high school and college days and to the amount of times either myself or my pals all nursed a broken teen heart. I was brought back to reality, quickly, when they began, frantically, telling me plans of things they could do for revenge. I quickly had to take my sympathetic mom hat off and put on my police hat. GIRLS!!!!!! We are not living a Carrie Underwood or Talylor Swift song. There is sweet revenge and then there is landing in front of a juvenile judge!!!!! Pull it together, people.
After they all ran up to the cheerleader's room, I took a sip, or a few sips of wine and headed up to talk to calmer heads. I pointed out that a better plan of revenge is the subtle, emotional revenge. (How old am I???? Am I still trapped in a junior high mentality???) Anyway, I pointed out that physical harm or property damage is not the way to go...ever. So, after much plotting, they decided the best revenge would be to seek out the house where the greatest number of their guy friends were hanging and go there. And then text about being there. Yeah, the old make him jealous plot was in high gear.
I then went out to pick up dinner for J and me. J who was still holding the tv remote...of course, guys are always oblivious to the broken hearts. While driving, this whole dramatic scene made me, once again, remember all of the plans of revenge that my pals and I always made but never carried out. I think it is just the teen way. You go through broken hearts to learn how to mend them. You go through hurt to learn how to work through it. You bond with your girlfriends over plans of revenge to teach you that no matter how dark the hour seems, you do have friends. You experience this all as a teen so that when you get to be my age, you can say that yes, the storm can be weathered and that someday, when the timing is right and you find the right person, you will find the happiness that is waiting for you in the right relationship.
Then, yesterday, as the cheerleader was buying a card and gift to cheer H up, she got a call that H had decided to go back with the cheater, er, boyfriend. The cheerleader was livid but told her pal that she understood. She asked me if she could return the card and gift to get her money back. I told her to just keep it, it wouldn't be the last of the teenage broken hearts.
J came home, we were enjoying a quiet evening of nothingness and all of a sudden Maggie's Farm erupted in fireworks. Yes, the three amigos came busting in, all on fire with the rage, angst, revenge of a teen heart broken.
In my ever changing moods, I was suddenly transported back to my own high school and college days and to the amount of times either myself or my pals all nursed a broken teen heart. I was brought back to reality, quickly, when they began, frantically, telling me plans of things they could do for revenge. I quickly had to take my sympathetic mom hat off and put on my police hat. GIRLS!!!!!! We are not living a Carrie Underwood or Talylor Swift song. There is sweet revenge and then there is landing in front of a juvenile judge!!!!! Pull it together, people.
After they all ran up to the cheerleader's room, I took a sip, or a few sips of wine and headed up to talk to calmer heads. I pointed out that a better plan of revenge is the subtle, emotional revenge. (How old am I???? Am I still trapped in a junior high mentality???) Anyway, I pointed out that physical harm or property damage is not the way to go...ever. So, after much plotting, they decided the best revenge would be to seek out the house where the greatest number of their guy friends were hanging and go there. And then text about being there. Yeah, the old make him jealous plot was in high gear.
I then went out to pick up dinner for J and me. J who was still holding the tv remote...of course, guys are always oblivious to the broken hearts. While driving, this whole dramatic scene made me, once again, remember all of the plans of revenge that my pals and I always made but never carried out. I think it is just the teen way. You go through broken hearts to learn how to mend them. You go through hurt to learn how to work through it. You bond with your girlfriends over plans of revenge to teach you that no matter how dark the hour seems, you do have friends. You experience this all as a teen so that when you get to be my age, you can say that yes, the storm can be weathered and that someday, when the timing is right and you find the right person, you will find the happiness that is waiting for you in the right relationship.
Then, yesterday, as the cheerleader was buying a card and gift to cheer H up, she got a call that H had decided to go back with the cheater, er, boyfriend. The cheerleader was livid but told her pal that she understood. She asked me if she could return the card and gift to get her money back. I told her to just keep it, it wouldn't be the last of the teenage broken hearts.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Free To Be...You And Me
We have hit that point in the summer where summer activities have run their course. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE summer and summer fun! But, every August, after the fair, my mind starts to crave structure and schedules. I claim to not be a follower of schedules but yet, I need them. And, between my friends in town, my friends out of town and all of my online friends, we seem to all have the same feeling...GET THE KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!!!! What has it been about this summer that is driving us all to drink, er, I mean nuts????
In my ever changing moods, I really do look forward, each May, to fun in the sun and the easy days of summer. Except, the older the cheerleader gets, the busier our summers have gotten. When she was young, our summer days consisted of us getting all of our work done around Maggie's Farm and then packing up and heading to the local pool. She would seek out her friends, I would seek out mine, I had a book by my side, my water, my sunscreen, my pals. We would keep one eye on the pool and one eye on each other. We could each watch a kid on the high dive, take a sip of water, stop mid sentence to make sure kid on high dive was okay after said dive, and continue our conversations. Good times. Then, at 5pm, on the dot, we packed up, came home, showered, the cheerleader would watch the Disney or Nick show of the moment and then we all had dinner when J got home. Tranquility ruled.
Now, they no more get out of school for summer and their activities begin. Like, on Day 2. Cheer camp/practices/cheer camp/practices/etc. Then, the revolving hotel door at Hotel California with friends all coming and going, Alice's Restaurant open at all hours, and me, waiting up on curfew, most nights. Add in the goat, fair, and all around teen attitude and I say....LET SCHOOL BEGIN!!!
I have a friend, from my message board, L, who proclaimed she may stick needles in her eyes until school starts for them. I know the feeling, L, I truly do. Then, my mind starts to drift and it starts to think of a plan that has been in the works for years. It consists of so many of my online friends and me building our own community. It would be a communal sort of place for us, only. Leaving kids and husbands at home. It would be escape time, for just us moms. We each have planned the kind of house we would have, if it will be on the beach or in the mountains or on a farm. I vote my house to be on the beach. Either way, our plan is to all have our houses next to each other and we all come and go and drink, eat, laugh, listen to music, watch our fav tv shows and fav movies, chat, not lift a finger except to do what we enjoy. Whenever one of us gets stressed, we always talk about our communal plan. A place where we are free from the everyday.
Of course, we all LOVE our husbands and our kids, and none of us would ever want to leave. But, for a short amount of time, we all have so much fun in the planning of our pretend escape...it eases our stress, we laugh so hard at some of the plans and then we let our minds return back to our everyday lives.
It's one of the reasons that I love my pals so much...we all know when another is stressed to the max and we know when the communal living plan needs to resurface...if only for an hour.
In my ever changing moods, I really do look forward, each May, to fun in the sun and the easy days of summer. Except, the older the cheerleader gets, the busier our summers have gotten. When she was young, our summer days consisted of us getting all of our work done around Maggie's Farm and then packing up and heading to the local pool. She would seek out her friends, I would seek out mine, I had a book by my side, my water, my sunscreen, my pals. We would keep one eye on the pool and one eye on each other. We could each watch a kid on the high dive, take a sip of water, stop mid sentence to make sure kid on high dive was okay after said dive, and continue our conversations. Good times. Then, at 5pm, on the dot, we packed up, came home, showered, the cheerleader would watch the Disney or Nick show of the moment and then we all had dinner when J got home. Tranquility ruled.
Now, they no more get out of school for summer and their activities begin. Like, on Day 2. Cheer camp/practices/cheer camp/practices/etc. Then, the revolving hotel door at Hotel California with friends all coming and going, Alice's Restaurant open at all hours, and me, waiting up on curfew, most nights. Add in the goat, fair, and all around teen attitude and I say....LET SCHOOL BEGIN!!!
I have a friend, from my message board, L, who proclaimed she may stick needles in her eyes until school starts for them. I know the feeling, L, I truly do. Then, my mind starts to drift and it starts to think of a plan that has been in the works for years. It consists of so many of my online friends and me building our own community. It would be a communal sort of place for us, only. Leaving kids and husbands at home. It would be escape time, for just us moms. We each have planned the kind of house we would have, if it will be on the beach or in the mountains or on a farm. I vote my house to be on the beach. Either way, our plan is to all have our houses next to each other and we all come and go and drink, eat, laugh, listen to music, watch our fav tv shows and fav movies, chat, not lift a finger except to do what we enjoy. Whenever one of us gets stressed, we always talk about our communal plan. A place where we are free from the everyday.
Of course, we all LOVE our husbands and our kids, and none of us would ever want to leave. But, for a short amount of time, we all have so much fun in the planning of our pretend escape...it eases our stress, we laugh so hard at some of the plans and then we let our minds return back to our everyday lives.
It's one of the reasons that I love my pals so much...we all know when another is stressed to the max and we know when the communal living plan needs to resurface...if only for an hour.
Scarborough Fair
Did you hear that big sigh of relief, yesterday? It was me as I was loading up Sugaree with the goat supplies and feed boxes and hay boxes left from the fair. Yes, the county fair has come and gone, leaving me covered in dust.
In my ever changing moods, I don't really understand the attraction of the county fair past the animal barns. This is where my fair experience begins and ends. I have no desire to travel past the show arena to venture onto the midway filled with rides, loads of people and fried foods. I don't think anyone would ever crown me fair queen. In fact, according to the cheerleader, I am a fair failure.
Each April, the cheerleader and her pal go out to a goat farm and each pick a goat for a 4H livestock project. They like to wait until all of the goat sales are over and people have come and paid big bucks for a prize winning goat. The cheerleader and pal go when all that are left are the goats that were passed up or the little runt goats or the goats who had to be bottle fed due to whatever complication may have happened with the mother goat. I am sure there is a farm name for the mother goat but I just like to call them whatever I like to call them.
So, they pick the unwanted goats and raise them, feed them, love them, train them for four months. They name them and treat them like a family pet. The goats are quite happy and the girls fall in love with them.
Then, August hits and in this town where Maggie's Farm is, people set their watches and their lives by the first Friday of August. That is always the kick off to our county fair. So, we spend the week before, on pen decorating, setting up the supply pen and then moving the goats in. I like to arrive after all of the hard work of unloading the goats is over. In the goat barn, our goats and I stick out like a sore thumb. First, our pen is always highly and colorfully decorated. We match feed buckets and water buckets and tack boxes, hay boxes, feed boxes all to our decorations. We have big, white wooden goat name hangings for the pen. We like to display all of our ribbons on the pen. The girls coordinate the color of their muck boots to the pen decor.
The other goats are all with very serious livestock groups. These groups thrive on all things goats. They are ruthless. They bring hair dryers, special top secret feed, one group has been known for their training on treadmills, they all set up some serious goat pens. They are the people who bought the high dollar goats. They snub our little goats that were looked over.
I arrive, each day, to check on things and make sure that the cheerleader has fed and watered them. When I arrive, the other goaters sort of just look down their noses at me. I come in with snappy outfits, a great handbag, a cloud of Chanel perfume and cute flipflops. See...the anti-fair girl.
On show days, we use simple Ivory soap on our goats to keep them all cute and white. The serious goaters get out their lotions and potions and go to town. They look at us in line, at the sad little forgotten goats and their overly fashioned owners and laugh.
Until showtime hits. I don't want to brag but our little goats have taken championship ribbons and trophies from the serious goats. The first year, our goats took County Born and Raised champ and we took Division champ. This year, our goats came in first and second in County Born and Raised and placed 4th in their divisions of 4H. We hang our ribbons and get mean looks and then I pack up my handbag and glide out of the barn for the day after kissing the goats on the heads.
So, today, fair is officially history for another year. This means there is goat stuff to wash, loads of laundry that the cheerleader will bring home from camper living at the fair and we bid goodbye to the goats. The lights, the scents, the people of the fair are all gone. I always feel such relief at this point in August.
The fair is great for the community but this anti-fair girl is ready to dust herself off and continue with life outside of the goat barn.
In my ever changing moods, I don't really understand the attraction of the county fair past the animal barns. This is where my fair experience begins and ends. I have no desire to travel past the show arena to venture onto the midway filled with rides, loads of people and fried foods. I don't think anyone would ever crown me fair queen. In fact, according to the cheerleader, I am a fair failure.
Each April, the cheerleader and her pal go out to a goat farm and each pick a goat for a 4H livestock project. They like to wait until all of the goat sales are over and people have come and paid big bucks for a prize winning goat. The cheerleader and pal go when all that are left are the goats that were passed up or the little runt goats or the goats who had to be bottle fed due to whatever complication may have happened with the mother goat. I am sure there is a farm name for the mother goat but I just like to call them whatever I like to call them.
So, they pick the unwanted goats and raise them, feed them, love them, train them for four months. They name them and treat them like a family pet. The goats are quite happy and the girls fall in love with them.
Then, August hits and in this town where Maggie's Farm is, people set their watches and their lives by the first Friday of August. That is always the kick off to our county fair. So, we spend the week before, on pen decorating, setting up the supply pen and then moving the goats in. I like to arrive after all of the hard work of unloading the goats is over. In the goat barn, our goats and I stick out like a sore thumb. First, our pen is always highly and colorfully decorated. We match feed buckets and water buckets and tack boxes, hay boxes, feed boxes all to our decorations. We have big, white wooden goat name hangings for the pen. We like to display all of our ribbons on the pen. The girls coordinate the color of their muck boots to the pen decor.
The other goats are all with very serious livestock groups. These groups thrive on all things goats. They are ruthless. They bring hair dryers, special top secret feed, one group has been known for their training on treadmills, they all set up some serious goat pens. They are the people who bought the high dollar goats. They snub our little goats that were looked over.
I arrive, each day, to check on things and make sure that the cheerleader has fed and watered them. When I arrive, the other goaters sort of just look down their noses at me. I come in with snappy outfits, a great handbag, a cloud of Chanel perfume and cute flipflops. See...the anti-fair girl.
On show days, we use simple Ivory soap on our goats to keep them all cute and white. The serious goaters get out their lotions and potions and go to town. They look at us in line, at the sad little forgotten goats and their overly fashioned owners and laugh.
Until showtime hits. I don't want to brag but our little goats have taken championship ribbons and trophies from the serious goats. The first year, our goats took County Born and Raised champ and we took Division champ. This year, our goats came in first and second in County Born and Raised and placed 4th in their divisions of 4H. We hang our ribbons and get mean looks and then I pack up my handbag and glide out of the barn for the day after kissing the goats on the heads.
So, today, fair is officially history for another year. This means there is goat stuff to wash, loads of laundry that the cheerleader will bring home from camper living at the fair and we bid goodbye to the goats. The lights, the scents, the people of the fair are all gone. I always feel such relief at this point in August.
The fair is great for the community but this anti-fair girl is ready to dust herself off and continue with life outside of the goat barn.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Your Love
My blogging has become sporadic and I don't like it! I don't like when bloggers come on and tell you how busy they are and that they vow to start blogging, again, and then it is months before you hear from them again. I am NOT that blogger!!!!
In my ever changing moods, the first verse to the song, Your Love, sums up my world minus the vacation...
"Josie's on a vacation far away..." I haven't been on a vacation but this summer is really blowing past me in a blur of crazy busy days, a house of kids, goats at the fair, my new little business taking off, the day to day, keeping up with my friends, the never ending upkeep of Maggie's Farm, lots of fun summer concerts, and did I mention the revolving door that I am thinking of installing to transport the loads of teens in and out in a quick manner.
I just need the earth to slow down a bit and give me back my QUIET mornings that I enjoy setting aside for blogging. The fair ends, tomorrow...huge sigh of relief! That will cut down on the extra few dozens of kids that don't actually live here. I won't be playing Alice's Restaurant for dishing out breakfasts after they all show and take care of their animals at fair. I won't be busy trying to find extra blankets for them all to sleep and take naps before they all shower and head back out to the fair. In case you didn't know, the county fair is a big happening in Maggie's Farm's town. I am ready to be done, pack up the goats, bid farewell to the extra kids, and start to tackle the laundry room.
So, basically, I miss my morning blog sessions. I miss you, my readers and fans. And I wanted you to know that since I have been so hit and miss. I look forward to getting back on track...
In my ever changing moods, the first verse to the song, Your Love, sums up my world minus the vacation...
"Josie's on a vacation far away..." I haven't been on a vacation but this summer is really blowing past me in a blur of crazy busy days, a house of kids, goats at the fair, my new little business taking off, the day to day, keeping up with my friends, the never ending upkeep of Maggie's Farm, lots of fun summer concerts, and did I mention the revolving door that I am thinking of installing to transport the loads of teens in and out in a quick manner.
I just need the earth to slow down a bit and give me back my QUIET mornings that I enjoy setting aside for blogging. The fair ends, tomorrow...huge sigh of relief! That will cut down on the extra few dozens of kids that don't actually live here. I won't be playing Alice's Restaurant for dishing out breakfasts after they all show and take care of their animals at fair. I won't be busy trying to find extra blankets for them all to sleep and take naps before they all shower and head back out to the fair. In case you didn't know, the county fair is a big happening in Maggie's Farm's town. I am ready to be done, pack up the goats, bid farewell to the extra kids, and start to tackle the laundry room.
So, basically, I miss my morning blog sessions. I miss you, my readers and fans. And I wanted you to know that since I have been so hit and miss. I look forward to getting back on track...
Monday, August 9, 2010
He's Gone
There isn't a whole lot to say on this day, August 9, except that he is missed. He made us all a part of a family and an experience. Those of us who followed were lucky enough to be in the lovelight. The music, the man, the scene. Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile...
"One man gathers what another man spills..."
"Come hear the Uncle John's Band by the riverside
Got some things to talk about, here beside the risin' tide
Come hear Uncle John's Band playing to the tide,
Come on along, or go alone,
He's come to take his children home"
"Saint Stephen with a rose, in and out of the garden he goes..."
"If you get confused, listen to the music play..."
"One man gathers what another man spills..."
"Come hear the Uncle John's Band by the riverside
Got some things to talk about, here beside the risin' tide
Come hear Uncle John's Band playing to the tide,
Come on along, or go alone,
He's come to take his children home"
"Saint Stephen with a rose, in and out of the garden he goes..."
"If you get confused, listen to the music play..."
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Brokedown Palace
Well, Saturday found me with no blog post about what I am reading, watching, listening to, so I thought I would get all caught up while I have the chance.
The week, last week, was all about The Grateful Dead, for me. Not only do I call my baking enterprise, Cosmic Charlie Baking, but, we also went to see Dark Star Orchestra play on Sunday. On Jerry Garcia's birthday. It was a great show and much more intimate than how we usually see them. I danced the night away, made some friends from Pittsburgh, and J and I stood and enjoyed the encore,dedicated to Jerry, and his birthday. If you are a Grateful Dead fan, you know that Brokedown Palace showcases Jerry's sweet, soulful, melodic voice. It also happens to be one of my all time favorite songs.
I have gotten hooked a television show recommended to me by my mother-in-law, Ramblin' Rose. She knew that I would love the urban farmers, their tales of life on a farm and a life with their goats since, well, goats are our life in the summers. If you have Planet Green, check out, The Fabulous Beekman Boys. They are hysterical.
I have been reading this book and is just a really great, coming of age type of story...
Fare you well, fare you well...
The week, last week, was all about The Grateful Dead, for me. Not only do I call my baking enterprise, Cosmic Charlie Baking, but, we also went to see Dark Star Orchestra play on Sunday. On Jerry Garcia's birthday. It was a great show and much more intimate than how we usually see them. I danced the night away, made some friends from Pittsburgh, and J and I stood and enjoyed the encore,dedicated to Jerry, and his birthday. If you are a Grateful Dead fan, you know that Brokedown Palace showcases Jerry's sweet, soulful, melodic voice. It also happens to be one of my all time favorite songs.
I have gotten hooked a television show recommended to me by my mother-in-law, Ramblin' Rose. She knew that I would love the urban farmers, their tales of life on a farm and a life with their goats since, well, goats are our life in the summers. If you have Planet Green, check out, The Fabulous Beekman Boys. They are hysterical.
I have been reading this book and is just a really great, coming of age type of story...
Fare you well, fare you well...
Windy
Hello!!! I am blowing back in!!! I feel like I have been doing nothing but blowing around, here, there and everywhere. The past week has been crazy and packed with lots of things going on and that new gig that I talked about when I last posted. I think that things have settled to a dull storm, at this point. I have my groove all planned out, now, and am charging full steam ahead.
In my ever changing moods, I have not been this busy, in a long time, and I am loving every minute of it!! After beginning this blogging journey to track new paths and finding my way in a changing role as the cheerleader gets ready to enter her senior year in high school, I have been lucky enough to have been given a chance to pursue something that has become a passion of mine. When I started this self-journey, one of my goals was to overcome my dislike/fear/irritation with baking. You all got to see my creation of Cosmic Charlie...my bread baking/baking attempts. Well, it turns out that I enjoyed the baking so much, that it is now what I am doing on a regular basis for a local establishment!!
Me, baking, almost daily. Who would have put those words, together, 6 months ago? It turns out that I find it very rewarding, very relaxing, very fun!! And, people all seem to love my creations!! It is the new niche that I was looking for and I love seeing and smelling all of my creations!!
Who knew that baking was going to be my next step in life? And, it fits into my lifestyle, perfectly! I work to my own beat, still have time for things at home and for the upcoming crazy senior year but I also have this little space that is all about me and my creativity!!
So, yes, I do feel like I am blowing around town, smiling, chatting, baking...and I have never felt so alive with possibilities!! I am a creative person by nature and this allows me a new outlet for my ever changing moods...
In my ever changing moods, I have not been this busy, in a long time, and I am loving every minute of it!! After beginning this blogging journey to track new paths and finding my way in a changing role as the cheerleader gets ready to enter her senior year in high school, I have been lucky enough to have been given a chance to pursue something that has become a passion of mine. When I started this self-journey, one of my goals was to overcome my dislike/fear/irritation with baking. You all got to see my creation of Cosmic Charlie...my bread baking/baking attempts. Well, it turns out that I enjoyed the baking so much, that it is now what I am doing on a regular basis for a local establishment!!
Me, baking, almost daily. Who would have put those words, together, 6 months ago? It turns out that I find it very rewarding, very relaxing, very fun!! And, people all seem to love my creations!! It is the new niche that I was looking for and I love seeing and smelling all of my creations!!
Who knew that baking was going to be my next step in life? And, it fits into my lifestyle, perfectly! I work to my own beat, still have time for things at home and for the upcoming crazy senior year but I also have this little space that is all about me and my creativity!!
So, yes, I do feel like I am blowing around town, smiling, chatting, baking...and I have never felt so alive with possibilities!! I am a creative person by nature and this allows me a new outlet for my ever changing moods...
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Ghost In You
Today, I am about to embark on a new chapter in my life. If all goes well, I will be on the brink of starting something that is all about me, designed by me, and the next step to fill this new niche of my new journey.
In my ever changing moods, I feel like the person inside of me is stepping out and looking at me from outside of my body. I have spent years as a full time, stay at home mom with hobbies but now I am being given an opportunity to begin something that is totally on my own. J and the cheerleader are very excited and I hope that when I next blog, it will be all good news with my new plans.
Have a great day, keep love in your heart and a song in your head...and never stop looking at the person within!
In my ever changing moods, I feel like the person inside of me is stepping out and looking at me from outside of my body. I have spent years as a full time, stay at home mom with hobbies but now I am being given an opportunity to begin something that is totally on my own. J and the cheerleader are very excited and I hope that when I next blog, it will be all good news with my new plans.
Have a great day, keep love in your heart and a song in your head...and never stop looking at the person within!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
I Am Woman
I have decided that at no other time in my life have I been more excited to be a woman. I know this sounds weird because I have been a woman for all of my life. I have loved every minute of every single day of being a girl and a woman. But, for some reason, I have hit a time in my life when I actually just beam with pride at being a woman and at the women surrounding me.
In my ever changing moods, I feel stronger and more confident, now, than in any other time of my life. And, I am surrounded by so many strong and fearless women that it only fuels me to want to continue to move full steam ahead.
In my world of women, I have come to respect, so many. One group that I am very impressed with is a group that I joined after I started to blog. They are a group called, SITS, and we are women bloggers helping women bloggers. I have never witnessed such a large group of women all in support of helping women. All for the same goal....to write really great blogs. Yesterday, one of the daily topics was about things that make a great blog. The majority answered, writing a blog that is in your own voice, true to your own thoughts and writing for yourself. Write about your passion or write about your life. Well, if you have been following me, you know that my rambling thoughts and searching for my new chapter in life is my passion. I smiled that I have covered those bases.
You also know that I am embarking on a presidency position for my women's group. I have been busy, this week, meeting with the committee chairs of each committee. I am getting to know these women on a whole new level. I love how we are connecting senior members of the group with deep roots in the past and newer members who have new visions and everyone is on board with the new journey. There has been nothing but an embracing of new and different and what I hope are successful paths.
As a group of women, we reach out and help women in our community. I have put a community service project in motion with another organization based on helping women and the response was so excited and overjoyed that we were reaching out to them.
I belong to a private message board of women. These women are another example of women coming together in support, friendship and love. It is amazing to see such interaction, on a daily basis, and have that interaction be filled with love, support, kindness and encouragement.
In my community, in this very uncertain economy, we have so many new businesses opening in the small downtown area. All backed by women! Not to mention the already established businesses that are backed by women.
It gives me chills and such pride to know that women, as a whole, are all out there, in all kinds of different aspects, helping women succeed. And, with all of this support, it is making it easier for me to find the courage to start down my own path of carving out my next step in life. I am not exactly sure which road I will follow but so far, word of mouth and support are driving me forward.
So, in a sense, this truly has seemed like the year of the woman. I do believe that we can do anything that we want. And, it makes it so much easier to work in circles that support you...I know that not all groups of women work well, together, but in my circles, I can proudly say that women are making their mark!
In my ever changing moods, I feel stronger and more confident, now, than in any other time of my life. And, I am surrounded by so many strong and fearless women that it only fuels me to want to continue to move full steam ahead.
In my world of women, I have come to respect, so many. One group that I am very impressed with is a group that I joined after I started to blog. They are a group called, SITS, and we are women bloggers helping women bloggers. I have never witnessed such a large group of women all in support of helping women. All for the same goal....to write really great blogs. Yesterday, one of the daily topics was about things that make a great blog. The majority answered, writing a blog that is in your own voice, true to your own thoughts and writing for yourself. Write about your passion or write about your life. Well, if you have been following me, you know that my rambling thoughts and searching for my new chapter in life is my passion. I smiled that I have covered those bases.
You also know that I am embarking on a presidency position for my women's group. I have been busy, this week, meeting with the committee chairs of each committee. I am getting to know these women on a whole new level. I love how we are connecting senior members of the group with deep roots in the past and newer members who have new visions and everyone is on board with the new journey. There has been nothing but an embracing of new and different and what I hope are successful paths.
As a group of women, we reach out and help women in our community. I have put a community service project in motion with another organization based on helping women and the response was so excited and overjoyed that we were reaching out to them.
I belong to a private message board of women. These women are another example of women coming together in support, friendship and love. It is amazing to see such interaction, on a daily basis, and have that interaction be filled with love, support, kindness and encouragement.
In my community, in this very uncertain economy, we have so many new businesses opening in the small downtown area. All backed by women! Not to mention the already established businesses that are backed by women.
It gives me chills and such pride to know that women, as a whole, are all out there, in all kinds of different aspects, helping women succeed. And, with all of this support, it is making it easier for me to find the courage to start down my own path of carving out my next step in life. I am not exactly sure which road I will follow but so far, word of mouth and support are driving me forward.
So, in a sense, this truly has seemed like the year of the woman. I do believe that we can do anything that we want. And, it makes it so much easier to work in circles that support you...I know that not all groups of women work well, together, but in my circles, I can proudly say that women are making their mark!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Camel Walk
It's Saturday, yes, you already know this because I am blogging my socks off about it...but, since it IS Saturday, you know I like to share what I have been reading, listening to, watching over the week...
I continue on my BEE marathon of re-visits. I am now getting ready to begin, The Informers, by Bret Easton Ellis. It is one that didn't hold my attention the first time around but then, I tend not to enjoy the form of short stories all interacting. It's just me and the way my brain works. Anyway, I think that I may enjoy it, more, this second time.
There was a movie and a rockumentary that I watched with J, this week. The movie is so hysterically funny. Well, it may not be humor for everyone's liking but we found it extremely funny. It's a great ensemble cast, some of the best lines, and fun music. It's on older movie but so fun!
The rockumentary was, The Festival Express. Great documentary about a rock tour that took place in Canada. The great music icons of the day, in 1970, all boarded a train as they toured Canada and stopped and played concerts in various cities. To watch it, now, brings chills. The youthful musicians all together, jamming, partying, tuning into each other's music and jam sessions. You see a young Janis, just months before her death. You see a young Jerry and to watch him and hear him, brings a tear to your eye. It was a time when their youthful ideals were still in play along with their music but it was also a time that was on the cusp of change. These musicians were some of the greatest, still are, always will be.
And, watching the movie, Flirting With Disaster, brought back my love for the band, Southern Culture On The Skids. Camel Walk was featured in the movie and it made me dig out our cd and I want to download it to my Ipod. We used to listen to them back in the mid-late 90s. It brings back memories of a couple of our good friends, our good times and a really bizarre road trip we took for a weekend down in Key West.
I continue on my BEE marathon of re-visits. I am now getting ready to begin, The Informers, by Bret Easton Ellis. It is one that didn't hold my attention the first time around but then, I tend not to enjoy the form of short stories all interacting. It's just me and the way my brain works. Anyway, I think that I may enjoy it, more, this second time.
There was a movie and a rockumentary that I watched with J, this week. The movie is so hysterically funny. Well, it may not be humor for everyone's liking but we found it extremely funny. It's a great ensemble cast, some of the best lines, and fun music. It's on older movie but so fun!
The rockumentary was, The Festival Express. Great documentary about a rock tour that took place in Canada. The great music icons of the day, in 1970, all boarded a train as they toured Canada and stopped and played concerts in various cities. To watch it, now, brings chills. The youthful musicians all together, jamming, partying, tuning into each other's music and jam sessions. You see a young Janis, just months before her death. You see a young Jerry and to watch him and hear him, brings a tear to your eye. It was a time when their youthful ideals were still in play along with their music but it was also a time that was on the cusp of change. These musicians were some of the greatest, still are, always will be.
And, watching the movie, Flirting With Disaster, brought back my love for the band, Southern Culture On The Skids. Camel Walk was featured in the movie and it made me dig out our cd and I want to download it to my Ipod. We used to listen to them back in the mid-late 90s. It brings back memories of a couple of our good friends, our good times and a really bizarre road trip we took for a weekend down in Key West.
Crazy
It is Saturday and the week just sort of went by so quickly in a haze of heat and humidity!! The beginning of the week had me on a roll and I was organized and on top of my game. Wednesday seemed to hit and it was hot and my brain seemed to wilt in the heat. By Thursday, I had forgotten most everything I needed to remember, it felt like everything I was doing was in slow motion and the part of me that should have cared about the state of my mind, just didn't.
In my ever changing moods, I ended up just writing Wednesday and Thursday off as my mindless days. Nothing went right, things were forgotten, my thought processes were in a fog and I just stood around not able to control any of it. So, I just let it all fall. I just shrugged my shoulders and let the fog stick around and then it seemed to lift. The really odd part is that a lot of my friends were saying the same thing about those same two days. I think the planets were out to get some of us and we all decided to just do the same thing. Nothing. It came, it went, we survived.
While I was in my fog, on Wednesday, I also had a ton of errands to run. It was hot, the crazy people were all over the roads, there were screaming kids and screaming moms at the grocery, I forgot a large portion of items I should have been picking up, I had a pounding headache and decided the best thing for me to do would be to just end it, make my purchases, go home and regroup.
On the drive out to Maggie's Farm, I pass a house that I pass, everyday. It sits right on the main road and I always glance over at their farm. While I was driving, I spotted a lemonade stand. One of those great, old fashioned kind of constructed lemonade stands. It had a big sign advertising the drink and it's price. I haven't seen a make-shift, kid run lemonade stand in ages. Maybe because I live in the sticks and the only customers, out here, would be cows and horses.
Just as I was ready to go through the intersection by that house, a big truck of farm equipment pulled out in front of the traffic, causing all of us to slam on our brakes and then wait for him as he couldn't quite make the turn. I was immediately annoyed but then I caught another glimpse of the lemonade stand. As I sat in traffic, I noticed the little girl who was running the lemonade stand. She was jumping in the air, doing cartwheels, doing somersaults and some sort of dance moves. As I watched her do crazy cartwheels, my mood lifted. She was so carefree and nothing was on her mind except enjoying the day and selling some lemonade. Her hair was blowing, she was barefoot and just happy to do her cartwheels.
As the traffic was able to move, again, and we all continued our drives, my spirit had been lifted, immensely, by this young girl and her crazy, carefree cartwheels. As I made my way home, I wondered at what point we all stopped doing cartwheels? Life would be so much more fun if we all just stopped and did something crazy like a cartwheel. I wanted to go back to the lemonade stand and tell the girl that I admired her carefree spirit. But, the next day when I drove past, the stand and the girl were no longer there. In a way, it was like she was just there, on that given time of day, to make me smile.
In my ever changing moods, I ended up just writing Wednesday and Thursday off as my mindless days. Nothing went right, things were forgotten, my thought processes were in a fog and I just stood around not able to control any of it. So, I just let it all fall. I just shrugged my shoulders and let the fog stick around and then it seemed to lift. The really odd part is that a lot of my friends were saying the same thing about those same two days. I think the planets were out to get some of us and we all decided to just do the same thing. Nothing. It came, it went, we survived.
While I was in my fog, on Wednesday, I also had a ton of errands to run. It was hot, the crazy people were all over the roads, there were screaming kids and screaming moms at the grocery, I forgot a large portion of items I should have been picking up, I had a pounding headache and decided the best thing for me to do would be to just end it, make my purchases, go home and regroup.
On the drive out to Maggie's Farm, I pass a house that I pass, everyday. It sits right on the main road and I always glance over at their farm. While I was driving, I spotted a lemonade stand. One of those great, old fashioned kind of constructed lemonade stands. It had a big sign advertising the drink and it's price. I haven't seen a make-shift, kid run lemonade stand in ages. Maybe because I live in the sticks and the only customers, out here, would be cows and horses.
Just as I was ready to go through the intersection by that house, a big truck of farm equipment pulled out in front of the traffic, causing all of us to slam on our brakes and then wait for him as he couldn't quite make the turn. I was immediately annoyed but then I caught another glimpse of the lemonade stand. As I sat in traffic, I noticed the little girl who was running the lemonade stand. She was jumping in the air, doing cartwheels, doing somersaults and some sort of dance moves. As I watched her do crazy cartwheels, my mood lifted. She was so carefree and nothing was on her mind except enjoying the day and selling some lemonade. Her hair was blowing, she was barefoot and just happy to do her cartwheels.
As the traffic was able to move, again, and we all continued our drives, my spirit had been lifted, immensely, by this young girl and her crazy, carefree cartwheels. As I made my way home, I wondered at what point we all stopped doing cartwheels? Life would be so much more fun if we all just stopped and did something crazy like a cartwheel. I wanted to go back to the lemonade stand and tell the girl that I admired her carefree spirit. But, the next day when I drove past, the stand and the girl were no longer there. In a way, it was like she was just there, on that given time of day, to make me smile.
Friday On My Mind
My week continued out of my fog related state and I found my way to Friday. As you all know, I love Friday. It is my favorite day of the week. I think it goes back to when I was young and it brought the end of the school week and the anticipation of a weekend of nothing but fun. I always think of Friday as being the day that brings the promise of fun.
In my ever changing moods, Fridays seem to evolve with each of my stages of life. When I was in high school, it still meant the end of the school week but it also meant Friday night games, it meant marching at Friday football games, anticipating weekend parties, plans with friends, hopeful for a date or the elusive phone call you hoped for from a crush. All good fun.
In college, once again, Friday brought the total freedom from a week of classes, tests, projects, lectures. My sorority sisters and I would practically sprint back to our rooms, change clothes and race down the hill to our little college town where the evening awaited us. Back then, it was a town of little college bars and restaurants. Most of us had cash in hand from our weekly mail from our parents and were ready to have fun. Errr, we were ready to spend our money, wisely, yes, on the necessary things. Shhhhhh, just in case this gets back to my mother. Anyway, what fun we had on Friday nights. I still remember, in order, the little bars that were our destinations. We always hit them in the same order and always ended up back where we started. We would then make that trip, back up the hill, either to our rooms or to a house party. Then, on Saturday mornings, we would all pile on each other's bed and talk about our Friday night adventures.
My years as a flight attendant, out of college, were a hit or miss on Fridays because as a junior flight attendant, I usually held weekend schedules. If I worked it right, though, I tried to grab the LAX-JFK all night flights. We got to the city at 6am and had a day and a half in the city. Good times on weekends when those trips happened.
When J and I were married and in the years before the cheerleader, our house became party central on Friday nights. It would just continue to fill up with friends. Before you knew it, the music was blaring, people would be dancing all over the living room, the entire patio would be opened up with more dancing, one of our friends would always be hard at work in our kitchen, cooking food. We would end up with stragglers spending the night in both guest rooms. Fun times!
When the cheerleader hit toddler years and we had moved to a beach community. We were in a neighborhood of all kids and frazzled moms. So, what is a girl to do but start a neighborhood Friday Happy Hour. The kids would all run and play and have snacks while the moms would all partake in one of my yummy blender drink creations.
When we moved to Maggie's Farm, I friended, L, who is still my good friend. Back then, our kids were just in first grade and Fridays meant a bunch of us and our kids would either gather at her pool for an all day pool party or go out on a boat loaded with kids, water toys and crazy moms cranking, The Babys, up as our soundtrack and stashing our lipgloss so it wouldn't get wet. No matter where we spent the Friday, the kids all had fun, we all brought snacks and drinks for the kids and the moms all enjoyed our now classic summer drink of choice, Pink Lemonades.
Yesterday, after years of not having these Friday kind of days, L re-instated the Friday pool party. It was quiet since the kids are all either grown or are too old to want to hang with us. As the years have gone by, lives have changed and our friendship cirlces have changed but then, sitting by the pool, yesterday, enjoying my Pink Lemonade cocktail, it as like the old saying...the more things change, the more they stay the same (I think that is how it goes) and it couldn't have been more true. We are at different stages in life, different paths are being taken and we have different friends but the constant that remains is my friendship with L and the Friday Pool Day...the Friday saga continues!
In my ever changing moods, Fridays seem to evolve with each of my stages of life. When I was in high school, it still meant the end of the school week but it also meant Friday night games, it meant marching at Friday football games, anticipating weekend parties, plans with friends, hopeful for a date or the elusive phone call you hoped for from a crush. All good fun.
In college, once again, Friday brought the total freedom from a week of classes, tests, projects, lectures. My sorority sisters and I would practically sprint back to our rooms, change clothes and race down the hill to our little college town where the evening awaited us. Back then, it was a town of little college bars and restaurants. Most of us had cash in hand from our weekly mail from our parents and were ready to have fun. Errr, we were ready to spend our money, wisely, yes, on the necessary things. Shhhhhh, just in case this gets back to my mother. Anyway, what fun we had on Friday nights. I still remember, in order, the little bars that were our destinations. We always hit them in the same order and always ended up back where we started. We would then make that trip, back up the hill, either to our rooms or to a house party. Then, on Saturday mornings, we would all pile on each other's bed and talk about our Friday night adventures.
My years as a flight attendant, out of college, were a hit or miss on Fridays because as a junior flight attendant, I usually held weekend schedules. If I worked it right, though, I tried to grab the LAX-JFK all night flights. We got to the city at 6am and had a day and a half in the city. Good times on weekends when those trips happened.
When J and I were married and in the years before the cheerleader, our house became party central on Friday nights. It would just continue to fill up with friends. Before you knew it, the music was blaring, people would be dancing all over the living room, the entire patio would be opened up with more dancing, one of our friends would always be hard at work in our kitchen, cooking food. We would end up with stragglers spending the night in both guest rooms. Fun times!
When the cheerleader hit toddler years and we had moved to a beach community. We were in a neighborhood of all kids and frazzled moms. So, what is a girl to do but start a neighborhood Friday Happy Hour. The kids would all run and play and have snacks while the moms would all partake in one of my yummy blender drink creations.
When we moved to Maggie's Farm, I friended, L, who is still my good friend. Back then, our kids were just in first grade and Fridays meant a bunch of us and our kids would either gather at her pool for an all day pool party or go out on a boat loaded with kids, water toys and crazy moms cranking, The Babys, up as our soundtrack and stashing our lipgloss so it wouldn't get wet. No matter where we spent the Friday, the kids all had fun, we all brought snacks and drinks for the kids and the moms all enjoyed our now classic summer drink of choice, Pink Lemonades.
Yesterday, after years of not having these Friday kind of days, L re-instated the Friday pool party. It was quiet since the kids are all either grown or are too old to want to hang with us. As the years have gone by, lives have changed and our friendship cirlces have changed but then, sitting by the pool, yesterday, enjoying my Pink Lemonade cocktail, it as like the old saying...the more things change, the more they stay the same (I think that is how it goes) and it couldn't have been more true. We are at different stages in life, different paths are being taken and we have different friends but the constant that remains is my friendship with L and the Friday Pool Day...the Friday saga continues!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Mama Tried
Today has been a very good day in the lives of the cheerleader and moi. Today is when I finally saw that my words and guidance and wisdom may really be sinking in, after all!!! Today was the day that the cheerleader actually admitted, in front of her friends, that I just may know what I am talking about from time to time.
In my ever changing moods, no words have ever sounded sweeter! It has been my goal, since the day of her birth, to guide, mold, shape her. Things were going swell until we hit the 13 year milestone. It's been a rollercoaster of hit and miss since then. As most teens, she tends to think that J and I are from another planet or that our wisdom comes from the land of the lame. She makes comments that make me think she doesn't even know my age since she refers to my teen years as the 1950s. I usually tell her what I think she should do or try to guide her to see what I am trying to get her to see but she fights it the whole time. She is a strong willed girl. And, lately, I have decided to start standing in silence. Bite my tongue and let her figure things out on her own. It is hard for this controlling mama but it's better than driving myself insane.
I don't even know what started today's conversation. I had fixed breakfast for her and her best friends and they were all sitting around the table talking. The topic may have been about hair. I think. Anyway, I heard the cheerleader address me and command me that from now on, when she is about to make a big decision, I am to stand in her face and make her reconsider. Luckily, this decision was about something trivial like to highlight or not to highlight. She said that even if she gets an attitude, I am to refuse all money or other perk that she is about to receive and make her change her mind. She actually ASKED me why I quit voicing my opinion!!?? I told her that I was tired of going round and round over things that were not that monumental. I told her I was trying to make her make her own decisions, make choices and live with them. She said, well, I want you to TELL me when I am about to make a stupid move!!!! I have never felt so proud.
My cheerleader is growing up and the more she grows, the more she realizes how much I have tried to get her to see the happy medium, the good balance in life. I hope she continues to want me to interject my opinions and I hope that in one side of her brain, she continues to process my knowledge. It's been a good day at Maggie's Farm, a good day, indeed....
In my ever changing moods, no words have ever sounded sweeter! It has been my goal, since the day of her birth, to guide, mold, shape her. Things were going swell until we hit the 13 year milestone. It's been a rollercoaster of hit and miss since then. As most teens, she tends to think that J and I are from another planet or that our wisdom comes from the land of the lame. She makes comments that make me think she doesn't even know my age since she refers to my teen years as the 1950s. I usually tell her what I think she should do or try to guide her to see what I am trying to get her to see but she fights it the whole time. She is a strong willed girl. And, lately, I have decided to start standing in silence. Bite my tongue and let her figure things out on her own. It is hard for this controlling mama but it's better than driving myself insane.
I don't even know what started today's conversation. I had fixed breakfast for her and her best friends and they were all sitting around the table talking. The topic may have been about hair. I think. Anyway, I heard the cheerleader address me and command me that from now on, when she is about to make a big decision, I am to stand in her face and make her reconsider. Luckily, this decision was about something trivial like to highlight or not to highlight. She said that even if she gets an attitude, I am to refuse all money or other perk that she is about to receive and make her change her mind. She actually ASKED me why I quit voicing my opinion!!?? I told her that I was tired of going round and round over things that were not that monumental. I told her I was trying to make her make her own decisions, make choices and live with them. She said, well, I want you to TELL me when I am about to make a stupid move!!!! I have never felt so proud.
My cheerleader is growing up and the more she grows, the more she realizes how much I have tried to get her to see the happy medium, the good balance in life. I hope she continues to want me to interject my opinions and I hope that in one side of her brain, she continues to process my knowledge. It's been a good day at Maggie's Farm, a good day, indeed....
Monday, July 19, 2010
And She Was
Once upon a time, a girl lived in a tropical paradise and had a cleaning girl, a lawn service, a handy man and animal control at her fingertips. Then she crash landed on Maggie's Farm. And she was without any of them.
In my ever changing moods, moving to Maggie's Farm taught me the ways of country living and it didn't involve a lot of outside help. Actually, when I tried to call around for a lawn service, leaf removal service and animal control, I got the same reply...Don't you live in the country? You don't need a service if you live in the country. You have fields. Ummmm...okay? I am still not sure what that means but what it meant for my new life as Hostess With The Mostess was that my life had changed. I was no longer just mixing cocktails. I needed to get with the country life program.
Before any of you ask about J and his role in country living. He does a lot of work, here. But, his business has long hours and he sometimes is not here until dusk and out of here at the crack of dawn. I am not a woman who sits and waits for her husband to get the jobs done. I do the jobs!! I am the job master! Somedays, I even amaze, myself. I challenge any of you to find a dead animal in your yard, grab a shovel and head off for the nearest field. It's not as glam as it sounds.
I find that the older I get, the stronger I seem to become. And I know no fear. I am up on ladders while I operate hedge trimmers on very high bushes and trees. I hang from ladders and spoutings to determine why they are not draining. This usually finds me grabbing a million nuts and acorns out due to the squirrel population that lives in our yard. I paint, I stain, I dig halfway to China just to remove old bushes, roots and trees. I mow, I weed eat, I weed by hand. I am in constant motion, outside. The cheerleader now finds herself with yard jobs. She has not yet embraced the love for all of it but I am hoping that someday, she will be able to pick up a rake and know what it's for when she is on her own.
I fix things, inside, too. If I don't know exactly what to do, I sit and figure it all out. It may take me a few days but after I obsess, I get the job done.
I like to think of myself as a do-it-all kind of girl. Who else can go through the bread baking process and it's different rises all the while being outside running lawn equipment? Who can Facebook while she stains? Who can plan a soiree while mowing and singing to her Ipod?
Over the years, we have found outside help to do some of these jobs but they usually don't live up to my controlling eye. So, when I think about paying these people for a so-so job, I would rather take on the job and know it's getting done, right. Perfection? Yes. I am a controlling perfectionist but I tweak the meaning a bit. J would totally disagree. He would say that I am a whirling, chaotic cyclone. My way of doing things may drive a sane person bonkers, but it's my way. And, I always get my job done to my liking.
In my ever changing moods, I find that the more jobs I take on, the happier I am. Who knows what's next for me but I plan on finding my next frontier to conquer. I just need a bit of time to formulate my plan. After all, I am not just a cocktail drinking, texting, Facebooking, goat caretaking, fashion fiend of a girl. Although, I do like my work clothes to match my flipflops and garden gloves..
In my ever changing moods, moving to Maggie's Farm taught me the ways of country living and it didn't involve a lot of outside help. Actually, when I tried to call around for a lawn service, leaf removal service and animal control, I got the same reply...Don't you live in the country? You don't need a service if you live in the country. You have fields. Ummmm...okay? I am still not sure what that means but what it meant for my new life as Hostess With The Mostess was that my life had changed. I was no longer just mixing cocktails. I needed to get with the country life program.
Before any of you ask about J and his role in country living. He does a lot of work, here. But, his business has long hours and he sometimes is not here until dusk and out of here at the crack of dawn. I am not a woman who sits and waits for her husband to get the jobs done. I do the jobs!! I am the job master! Somedays, I even amaze, myself. I challenge any of you to find a dead animal in your yard, grab a shovel and head off for the nearest field. It's not as glam as it sounds.
I find that the older I get, the stronger I seem to become. And I know no fear. I am up on ladders while I operate hedge trimmers on very high bushes and trees. I hang from ladders and spoutings to determine why they are not draining. This usually finds me grabbing a million nuts and acorns out due to the squirrel population that lives in our yard. I paint, I stain, I dig halfway to China just to remove old bushes, roots and trees. I mow, I weed eat, I weed by hand. I am in constant motion, outside. The cheerleader now finds herself with yard jobs. She has not yet embraced the love for all of it but I am hoping that someday, she will be able to pick up a rake and know what it's for when she is on her own.
I fix things, inside, too. If I don't know exactly what to do, I sit and figure it all out. It may take me a few days but after I obsess, I get the job done.
I like to think of myself as a do-it-all kind of girl. Who else can go through the bread baking process and it's different rises all the while being outside running lawn equipment? Who can Facebook while she stains? Who can plan a soiree while mowing and singing to her Ipod?
Over the years, we have found outside help to do some of these jobs but they usually don't live up to my controlling eye. So, when I think about paying these people for a so-so job, I would rather take on the job and know it's getting done, right. Perfection? Yes. I am a controlling perfectionist but I tweak the meaning a bit. J would totally disagree. He would say that I am a whirling, chaotic cyclone. My way of doing things may drive a sane person bonkers, but it's my way. And, I always get my job done to my liking.
In my ever changing moods, I find that the more jobs I take on, the happier I am. Who knows what's next for me but I plan on finding my next frontier to conquer. I just need a bit of time to formulate my plan. After all, I am not just a cocktail drinking, texting, Facebooking, goat caretaking, fashion fiend of a girl. Although, I do like my work clothes to match my flipflops and garden gloves..
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