I forgot about NASCAR...

I planned a sweet little sabbatical in the middle of race week.
Forgot the noise, the fumes, loud cars
100,000 screaming fans!
Off hours they run time trials, and cutesy little races.
Corvette shows………
Lots of dusty rides
Cleaned up hotrods
Motorcycles in every color
Beer on ice when not flowing
Food, food, food
Camper trailers, RV’s, tents and old camper-top trucks
But most definitely…. Not me!

Early

Early, it is morning.
I step lightly without shoes

I step lightly, joy renews
Tenderness gleaned from the light
Precious time is in my sight
Meets me when I feel the dew
When I step without my shoes

I step lightly without shoes
Ii is morning, early

How might it have been ...?

How might it have been different for you? If early in your life, the first time you as a tiny child felt your anger coming together inside yourself, someone, a parent or grandparent, or older sister or brother, had said, “Bravo! Yes, that’s it! You’re feeling it!”

If, during the first time you had experienced that sharp awareness of ego, of “me, I’m me, not you”… you had been received and hugged and affirmed, instead of shamed and isolated.

If someone had been able to see that you were taking the first baby step toward feeling your own feelings, of knowing that you saw life differently from those around you.

What if you had been helped to experience your own uniqueness and to feel the excitement of sensing, for the very first time, your own awareness of life? What if someone had helped you to own all of this… to own your own life?


How might it have been different for you?



(Dedication:JDS)

Jo-Jo's Joke

What do you mean, "GO GREEN"?

I like the PINK one!

Inner Child: living in the moment

She often walks right by my side
In rain we run for cover
It’s from the world that we would hide
And not seen by another

Times of past and times to be
Are different now for us
We’ve found the clue to set us free
Departing illusions’ fuss

A gentle breeze, the birds appear
My inner child sings loudly
We keep our smile in present here
And do so rather proudly

The moment lived dissolves past thoughts
And keeps the future away
Enjoying every moment sought
Gives hope to last the day

Voyage

The real voyage of discovery consists
not in seeking new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.

~Marcel Proust

The Plan

I began this quest of “orderliness” because I needed some way to help me work consistently, not perfectly, but consistently, so I would not wear myself out. I have a dream and for once I would use my daydreaming in detail for planning.

So I envisioned my dream and saw some goals I needed to complete it. Now it was time to write down those goals. Then it occurred to me, how many times do I get “right here” and stop. What was that about? What caused me to stop? Wisdom from one of the books on my desk, spoke loudly:

“To put feet to you goals and start moving ahead, you must realize that reaching your goals requires behavior change. Have you thought about the behaviors that get in the way of your dreams or about the habits you must initiate to get where you want to go? It’s time to evaluate them, decide how to deal with them and move forward.”

Out popped “The Plan” as I call it: STOP, START, CONTINUE. You take a sheet of paper and make three columns; labeling them Stop, Start, Continue.

In the first column, write three habits you want to stop because they are hindering your journey toward your dream. (Stop watching late night TV if it’s zapping my energy level I need for the next day. Stop being president of the moose lodge because I already work for two organizations, and have no time for the kids.)

Under heading number two, list habits you intend to start. (Do a load of laundry every night. Rise a half hour earlier to write. Increase savings deposits by 3%.) The point here is to at “upgrade” if you cannot totally change things at once.

Column three are the behaviors you want to continue. They are useful and successful. For this to work you need at least three items or more, added to each column. Writing your planned behaviors and reviewing the written goals daily will dramatically increase your chances of sticking to them.

This is what I’m doing.

Happy Mom or Subtitute Day!

Mom, Dad, Step-parent, Aunt, Uncle, Grandmother, Grandfather, Adoptive

(Sung to the tune of: “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands…)

If you love your little peeper(s), clap your hands.
If you love your little peeper(s), clap your hands.
If you love your little peeper(s), even more when they are sleepers,
If you love your little peeper(s), clap your hands.

*More and more we see single-parents performing both Mom and Dad duties. Theirs is an awesome task as role models for their children. This my personal tribute to friends I have, and know they would never begrudge their child anything. Indeed, many tell me that the child keeps them going. Bless them all.

Gooeyduck hunting: sea food commercial

Gooeyduck digging: dig it!


Gooeyduck or Elephant Trunk Clam?




Pick a word, any word:
Goouiducks
Geoducks
Gooeyducks
Gweducks

No matter how you spell the name, all are pronounced with a beginning prefix of gooey. They are clams! Very large clams. They range in shell size from 7"-9" inches; that's a lot of gooey for the hooey. The siphon or long trunk-like object can be 1-3 feet long. They taste like scallops, often much better. They can be eaten raw or cooked.

They are very expensive, which means a lot of molooey to buy the gooey; oh phooey!Gweduck is a native word meaning to "dig deep". So dig deep in your pockets to pay for this delightful gweduck!

They are found in Japan, British Columbia, Canada, and Northwestern U.S..

In Japan they are called, "Elephant Trunk Clams."

(I seem to have a thing for ducks.)

Affirming the good things in Life*

Gratitude can help us learn to acknowledge what we have now,

face the fearful “what ifs” we create,

practice the art of acceptance,

and expect good things from life.

Part of my plan for moving along, choosing the goals and dreams I want, is to use “affirmation cards” that focus on gratitude.

“Today, I will be grateful for the choices available to me, and I will make choices that are good for me.”

Photo: I am grateful for any participation you’d add to help me spread my wings!


*See blog titled: “I have the making of a plan. I do.”
Coming attraction: “The Plan”

I have the makings of a plan. I do.

You’d think that after all of these years I’d know exactly how to change my life. You’d think that I could set my goal or place my dream before me, and beat a path straight to it. Then again, if you’ve been reading along for the last few months you’re wondering: did she get there or are we still traveling?

My old friend Fibromyalgia often stops to play but doesn’t leave as soon as I think it should. It interrupts, and before I know it, I am back to square one in the planning stage of a goal or a dream. My cognitive ability leaves me and I feel sad. I’m learning how to use these interruptions as times to help someone else instead.

Lately the “fog” has begun to lift and I feel “Dixie” coming to the surface. Now is the time to plan step by step the way for me to get going on that special goal. Reach the goal and live the dream! Hooray!

This time I plan to document my progress. My Fibro coach is most interested in learning what stops my mental flow towards accomplishment. You are most welcome to join me in my trek. Don’t worry, I’ll have ‘commercials or cartoons’ so you won’t be bored… lol. Okay, I’ll get back with more in a day or so.

ALL STOP

Mother's Day Parade

A smile of encouragement...

A smile of encouragement
at the right moment may act like
sunlight on a closed up flower;
it may be the turning point for a struggling life.

In my ongoing process to learn about life through me, I find that smiles really do help. Lately I wonder if I should carry a small mirror. When I take myself too seriously I can "have a look, have a smile," and keep going. [;)

Just for fun...

Marvin's mother invited her boss home for dinner. It was Marvin's job to set the table.
But when it came time to eat, his mother said, "Marvin, why didn't you give Mr. Brown a knife and fork?"
"Because," said Marvin, "you always said he eats like a horse."



It's raining cats and dogs today.
I know. I just stepped into a poodle.

Tales of Text from the High Chair

Alistair Cookie: Narrator Extraordinaire
Campaign poster-child for “Double-Choco-Chip” cookies

Hello again to the readers who love my great narrations. To those who don’t, give it time: I’m cute and funny. Just look at this face; makes you want to pinch those little cheeks, right? Well, don’t you do it, just love me from afar.

Normally I enjoy a trip to the great outdoors. But oh, what to do on those rainy days? You know those inside days? Shh, ready the cookies, and see what I have found to make us all happy. (Crunch, munch, slurp). From my glorious high chair I survey the great land before me. My Papa looks up and smiles so sweetly at me. He has determined that I need a new sand box. This time it would have a lid to prevent my cat Fluffy from entering it. Fluffy couldn’t help herself. She and I would often “text” each other about such things. There were no secrets between me and old Fluffy. This is where our story begins; a tale of text from the high chair. (Ahem, crunch, crunch.)

From the table there came a low whirring sound… and then music! Ah, the fun phone had been left on! Steel drums started banging and tanging, and lots of little people “sanging.” Then I read Fluffy’s text message: “I know you.”

I giggled loudly and texted back: “I.O.U. 2.” It was great fun and I lost track of time texting my cat, enjoying the great banter. That Fluffy has thousands of jokes! I ordered the vendor six pack of 6,000 jokes. Though I’m not sure what a “vendor” is, nevertheless, there are 6,000 citty cat jokes coming soon to a location near me!! (Ha, ha, ha, aha! Crunch)

My Papa returned to the kitchen, and with great excitement, he talked to my Mum. I don’t recall seeing him this happy, ever. Yet, he had thousands of orders he’d received for the new sand box invention. Oh, perfect day!! Even without the shining sun, the room was brightly lit. My Papa went back to his phone, punching in letters, while mine, simultaneously, requested Fluffy’s citty cat vet number.

I asked my Mum, “Is the ‘cc number’ the same number the vet gives Fluffy for a citty cat check up?”

Papa looked up and spoke, “Alistair, please hand me your phone.” At that moment Fluffy appeared and I knew the text time was over. I handed the phone to Papa, and watched as he left for the great outdoors. He stood by the old oak tree for the longest time. He’d look at one phone and then the other. I watched as he began shaking his head: “no, no, no, and no.” Finally Papa’s laughter was really ringing through the trees. I knew he must be reading Fluffy’s jokes.

Something for David

"A Day In The Life: Dave's Progress" has an interesting and humourous blog posted. His "Chapter 27: Confessions of a Bibliophile," will delight readers and those who especially like to collect books; Bibliophiles collect books. Or is the fact that they collect books, what makes them Bibliophiles? Oh well, not to worry, I'll return and read it for a fourth time! It's that much fun!

Meanwhile you know me and my photo madness? I typed in "bibliophile" to search and got this wonderful photo. This one is for you, David.

http://mb1023.blogspot.com/

I can tell the farce from the trees...

Farce: 1- A play marked by broadly satirical comedy and improbable plot. 2- The broad humor characteristic of farce or pretense. 3- A ridiculous action, display or pretense; farcical.

I can tell the farce (forests) from the trees. What I can’t tell is: why do people who climb the trees, turn around, and then cut them down?

Yes! Some people expend great amounts of energy to surround their trees with others. Lives upon lives are added and the play spends tighter; the plot thickens. This then is the farce; the farce of no return for many. People ensnared in the farce.

Loss becomes so much fun for the farce lovers; they wait patiently to down that tree. Bring the large axe and a long wagon to haul the timber to the river.

Prime each timber, telling them, they shall be great soon. They shall be great fun. Tease them with moments they’ve wondered about. Dare they ask, risking a barrage of unkind words? No they are silent; fearing that the farce will not be with them anymore. The great farce addiction is about to hurt them; they know. They steady themselves and wait for the axe first blow.

A chop, chop, chop, is heard above the silent weeping, as so many send great thoughts skyward. Forgive the climber. Forgive the primer. Fall, do not bow, at this farcical moment. In a tree, close by, sits a climber who denies any part of the hate that is happening. (Such charming chops, he thinks.)

“There’s never been a farce or a ruse or a joke better than this; silly others believing such dribble. All the timber had to do was stand there and be silent. I would have let them live. I could have”. He glanced to the right, watching as another farce fell, and smiled.

Families.

a "looney" tune?

Brought to you by the 21st century "Union" label.


I'm a prepper;
she's a prepper;
wouldn't you like to be a prepper too?

Timing

Pregnant Male Seahorse: 'any time now'


Timing can be so frustrating. I can wait and wait for something to happen, and it seems to be forever until it comes to pass. Or, suddenly, an event or circumstance is thrust upon me, catching me by surprise. Believing that things happen too slowly or too quickly is an illusion. Timing is perfect.

“If we could untangle the mysteries of life and unravel the energies which run through the world; if we could evaluate correctly the significance of events passing; if we could measure the struggles, dilemmas, and aspirations of mankind, we could find that nothing is born out of time. Everything comes at its appointed moment.” ~Joseph R. Sizoo

Sorting

I’m sorting through the madness I call mind
On my way to rediscover life refined
I won’t stop at all the sites
Just the happy, hopeful bytes
I am grateful for the people who are kind

I am sorting through the madness of my mail
To eliminate those things that truly fail
No more ads and sticky spam
Just the stuff that says, ‘I am’
A lucky girl with many chances to prevail

I am sorting through the box of my feelings
Looking forward to the rush of blissful healings
As each feeling finds some grace
There’s a smile upon my face
As I realize that life solves all misdealings