Connected and Committed

turning it around

And it's supposed to be fun!!

How do you score on this list?

I love this list from Keri Smith's blog. As well as to artistic striving, it applies to any creative endeavor, including parenting, performing tasks in a 9-5 job, or just enduring in a cookie-cutter world. I'm going to write my own list, turning all those statements on their heads. Stay tuned. :~)

if'n these guys can do it.....

...then anybody can!

Create Your Own Reality

By paying attention to the way you feel, and then choosing thoughts that feel the very best, you are managing your own vibration, which means you are controlling your own point of attraction — which means you are creating your own reality. It's such a wonderful thing to realize that you can create your own reality without sticking your nose in everybody else's, and that the less attention you give to everybody else's reality, the purer your vibration is going to be — and the more you are going to be pleased with what comes to you.

Abraham-Hicks

marigold walls

infinite potential

There is the potential for relief (feeling better) indefinitely. In other words, we do not know of any ending point to the amount of clarity, and adventure, and joy, and Well-Being—it is an unlimited thing.

Abraham-Hicks
10/24/04

fishtank

birthday part II

Last night I wanted to find a special place to have a meal to celebrate my birthday. Special as in my not having to cook it, and in that I would be willing to eat it - my standards are pretty high in terms of what I'll pay someone else to put in my body.

It doesn't help that Sunday evenings in my neck of the woods are pretty bleak for retail and gastronomic opportunities of any kind.

The organic macrobiotic place up the street - closed. The better than average local eatery - closed. The Nigerian place I've been meaning to go to - the lights were on and the parking lot was full, but the doors were locked. 

I was about to resort to an artsy-fartsy coffee shop that serves sandwiches and soup and various vegan delights, when I noticed a place that I've walked by often in the year and a half I've lived here, and never gone in. After a quick look at the Mediterranean choices on the menu posted in the window, I decided to give it a try.

Three hours later, I emerged with a to-go box of garlic chicken with couscous, pecans and artichoke hearts, and what was left of a chocolate mousse that had had a candle stuck in it while the other patrons sang Happy Birthday to me. During the three hours I learned all about the owner/cook who had lived in Italy for five years (I did for three) and learned how to cook the most excellent food. It brought back lots of good memories of meals shared with friends al fresco and otherwise.

The walls of the place were painted the exact color I've picked out for our new living area. The furniture was a hodge-podge of antiques and art where a party could be had, and many are, so I hear.

On one of the bookshelves there was a a boxedset of tarot deck and instruction book, so while I waited for my meal to be prepared, I dealt out the standard ten cards and looked through the book for their meaning. I needed someone to tell me how the cards intereact with each other though.

Then I learned from one of the other patrons that there are mondo condos going up just a block from my soon-to-be old apartment. Yikes, what a traffic nightmare I'm escaping. It's great that the area is gaining popularity, but at what price, I wonder.

It was awesome having the leftovers for lunch today at work. After rearranging my desk area, computer and phone so I look out the window rather than at the wall, it was a beautiful view for a spring fever kind of day.  And I appreciate being led to this place that fed my soul as well as my palate.

birthday

It's my birthday tomorrow - I'll be 46 - never have had an issue with letting it be known, although I have to credit my lineage for that confidence - I've never looked my age - I either looked older when I was younger, or younger now that I'm older.  Happy Birthday to Me!!

Lately I have been drawn to the television like some bizarre alien pod-people ritual. I turn it on against my better judgement, and a few hours later I look at the clock and think, what did I just do?! Most of my adult life I did without a tv in my home, or at the very least, without cable, until three years ago.  I have issues with most of what's available for brain and spirit consumption and often consider taking my set to the local Salvation Army store as a gift to myself.

But. These shows that I'm drawn to lately seem to have something in common - they either chronicle someone doin' their reachin' and dabblin' and shinin' thang in real time, or a particular character portrayal is done so deliciously that I know the actor is having the time of his/her life.

Is this some sort of cosmic homework assignment? If it is, I'd really appreciate it if the lineup could happen before 9 PM so my butt isn't draggin' the next day, please.

I'm paying attention, though. And the message is coming through loud and clear. I have a feeling some of this will find its way into a newsletter or two.

   

let the deluge begin

Four down, thirty-eight to go...

shoots

I swear these weren't there 24 hours ago.

surface of Mars

 

Is this the coolest image, or what? A simple click of a button in Paint, of all things, changes an ugly dark brown to an awesome blue freshness.  It's the simple things...

Well, folks, I am moving in 42 days. 42 days from now, there are 42 boxes that will be full of my stuff winging their way westward. Today is my first work from home session, and I must say, I could get used to this.  Woo hoo!!!

seasonal

cheeseburger hole

Viola! The cheesbuger hole, as it is affectionately referred to in local construction circles. Formerly a window, now one of the open spaces between the old and the new. I love it.

Here's the view from the other direction:

And the new, improved, bigger and better kitchen! It's amazing how much a little space can change your outlook on life.

Dorothy's shoes

Everyone should have a pair of these in their closet, don't you think? :~)

splish, splash

As I was standing in line at the credit union family service center to get a few rolls of quarters to do laundry (only a few more weeks and no more shared laundry facilities for me!) this afternoon, a mom and her five year-old son and four year-old daughter were ahead of me a few. They had on their raincoats and galoshes, totally inappropriate for the dazzling 65 degree and dry weather outside but oh so much fun! The little boy's green boots had the eyes of a friendly alligator or frog protruding from the top of the foot, and they easily slid off and on which he demonstrated over and over again while waiting his turn to move up to the teller.

His sister's boots were just as charmingly pink but did not take on any animal persona, and did not slide off and on nearly as easily, as she wanted to demonstrate but soon gave up.

I considered asking if I could take a picture of the little boy's boots, with the thought of posting it here later. But I didn't. I just watched and smiled and appreciated.

And then found this photo on the internet:

niche marketing

This is awesome.

next eye candy stop, pier one

It's the second season finale of Project Runway tonight. I'm leaving the decision as to whether or not I should stay up to watch it until later. Right now I'm sleep deprived, and staying up that late - it's two hours - would probably put me over the edge. It's on again tomorrow at 5:00, so that's probably when I'll tune in. It amazes me that I would plan my schedule around a television show, but there you have it. After this episode, my spring is unfettered with such trappings.

gnome update

Just yesterday I was saying that I haven't been in need of crafty goodness for awhile, but then of course inspiration hit big time, so a trip to Joanne's was in store for this afternoon.  These little gnomes are supposed to sit on the rim of a potted plant, but they are keeping my shelving company as they share their trickster powers with me.

Since I started this blog, I take pictures of multi-colored plastic wonders instead of buying them. I discovered all I wanted was the color hit, not to actually own them.

'Tis the season. Yikes. There were at least 8 store racks with these various mutations of easter stuff, the funkiest being the plastic eggs with sports' balls emblazened on them.

wind chime

ear candy

From this week's Free Will Astrology column:

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Of all the arguments made in favor of
getting regular exercise, I rarely hear the one that's most important to me: Do
it because it strengthens and tones the power of your will. When you get
used to rousing yourself out of your physical inertia, the habit carries over
into the mental and spiritual sphere. You find it easier to force yourself
out of your comfort zones and push toward the next frontier. You're less
likely to procrastinate and accept mediocrity, and you actually enjoy
challenging yourself with worthy goals that require strenuous effort.
It's now the will-building season for you, Pisces. You know what to do.

Oh. this man. can write.  The physical pleasure I experience from how these words feel in my brain is incredible. The melody makes me smile. The subject matter probably rings my chimes more than others might, so that may have something to do with resonating so much with what he says. Ear candy.

there's no place like gnome

I currently have a campaign running within and among my various consciousnesses to kill my tendencies toward resentment, anxiety, perfectionism and resistance with kindness. Their effectiveness as coping mechanisms was outgrown long ago, but of course they don't give up their spots that easily. Demands and protests haven fallen on deaf ears, hence the campaign. During a conversation with an intuitive friend, this image popped into my head - an amusing trickster, much more easily tolerated and appreciated than a faceless irritant. So I am on the lookout for a garden gnome to call my own - this shot was taken in a lawn and garden store, but this particular little guy came with a cheesy lookin' plastic solar panel that keeps the globe under his palms lit up at night. No thanks. Just want the gnome, thank you.