January 30, 2017

Comedy Monday



What a weekend! Chinese preparing for war. Washington state Governor tackling POTUS, an out-of-control madman pissing on the constitution, etc, etc, etc.

We deserve to lighten it up a bit today.

Do something to make yourself laugh. You must, it's by decree of the Queen.

I am going to write letters filled with puns to my grandchildren and glue the envelopes into my journal.  When I am long gone ( or pissing myself in a nursing home) they will be able to remember me with:

"I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me!"


"Last night I was dreaming that I had written Lord of the Rings. My husband said I was Tolkien in my sleep!"



"Why do seagulls fly over the sea? Because if the flew over the bay they would be bagels!"

"A man walks into a zoo. The only animal in the zoo is a dog! Ah, it's a shitzu!"

"Parallel lines have so much in common, it's a shame they'll never meet!"

So, my friends, before we get back to the news and the fall of the American empire, what are you going to do to make yourself laugh today?




January 26, 2017

Speak No Evil



January 26, 2017

Seventh day of the new regime.

I promise I won't say anything negative or accusatory.
I promise I won't post negative stuff on Facebook.
I promise I won't 'Like' any negative stuff on Facebook.
I promise I won't 'Share' any negative stuff on Facebook.
I promise I won't blog any negative stuff about Trumplethinskin  the new regime.

I promise I won't say anything negative or accusatory.
I promise I won't post negative stuff on Facebook.
I promise I won't 'Like' any negative stuff on Facebook.
I promise I won't 'Share' any negative stuff on Facebook.
I promise I won't blog any negative stuff about Trumplethinskin  the new regime.

Mother-Father God,
Help me to not say anything negative or accusatory.
Help me to not post negative stuff on Facebook.
Help me to not 'Like' any negative stuff on Facebook.
Help me to not 'Share' any negative stuff on Facebook.
Help me to not blog any negative stuff about Trumplethinskin  the new regime.

My dear friends,
Help me to not say anything negative or accusatory.
Help me to not post negative stuff on Facebook.
Help me to not 'Like' any negative stuff on Facebook.
Help me to not 'Share' any negative stuff on Facebook.
Help me to not blog any negative stuff about Trumplethinskin  the new regime.

Screw it!
Can you believe what that ___________ did today?



January 21, 2017

Something Light




Too Literal?






Too Tickly?











Too Boring?





















Too Formidable?


























Okay then, I guess it's back to self-medicating!




January 20, 2017

Proclamation

Did you know that January 20, 2017 has just been proclaimed 
International Margarita Before Noon Day?

It's true!





I believe I will have four!

January 17, 2017

It's Okay Tuesday!







Tuesday! Following the lead at Airing My Laundry, One Post At A Time:

1. It's Okay that my hands were teal, purple and green yesterday after spending the day with my great-granddaughter. If she wants to paint my hands, she can paint my hands.

2.  It's Okay that we have decided to paint over all the murals in our house and use soft neutral colors.

3.  It's Okay that many (but not enough) of my books have found new homes.

4.  It's Okay that the next four days are supposed to dump record rains on us. The drought has really sucked. Hey Sky, bring it!

5.  It's Okay that the yard is still full of downed trees and branches and that Big Ugly has left us so exposed. The extra light in the house is incredible!

6.  It's Okay that tomorrow is my birthday and is supposed to dump rain all day because reading and drinking margaritas can be indoor sports.

7.  It's Okay that I am going to be older tomorrow than I am today because that alternative would suck.

Have a good day, everybody.

January 13, 2017

Moledro

Did you visit WordSalad yesterday and discover 12 Beautiful Words You've Never Encountered?

Pretty Cool, huh?

If you did, what did you think of:

"3. moledro

n. a feeling of resonant connection with an author or artist you’ll never meet, who may have lived centuries ago and thousands of miles away but can still get inside your head and leave behind morsels of their experience, like the little piles of stones left by hikers that mark a hidden path through unfamiliar territory."

Pretty juicy definition. My life's goal is to write a story or a book that will inspire moledro in others.
(Wow, that felt like 5th grade English; having to write a sentence using the vocabulary words of the week.)

Have you read books that have gotten inside your head? Can you spot the path the author was taking?
Is there a tome out there that has caused you to smell the trees and earth in the setting, or maybe smell and see the exhaust of a city bus?

When I look around my house, see my hundreds of books stacked double wide in bookshelves in every room, I finally really that my drug of choice is moledro!  Can't get enough.

Finished reading Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George recently. Incredible dose of moledro! I could feel the air, the river's current. I could taste the food, smell the flowers and spices.

What books have you read, or what blog do you read, where you connect with the author in a special way?

January 12, 2017

Vellichor

Have you ever heard or read the word "vellichor"?  I had not, until today.

Of course, the first thing we do in today's world, when we are unfamiliar with something; what do we do? We Google it!

So, I did!

What a profound word for such a subtle and elusive perception, even, when we are not aware of the perceiving!

Have I confused you yet?

Many of you writers may be familiar with the website WordSalad. It popped up in my Google search. Low and behold, vellichor is the first word listed on it's 12 Beautiful Words You've Never Encountered page.

Quoting the definition given on Word Salad (though I found the exact definition on several other sites): "n. the strange wistfulness of used bookstores, which are somehow infused with the passage of time—filled with thousands of old books you’ll never have time to read, each of which is itself locked in its own era, bound and dated and papered over like an old room the author abandoned years ago, a hidden annex littered with thoughts left just as they were on the day they were captured."

I also found the word on 10 Perfectly Cromulent Words,  which describes 'made up words'! It refers to John Koenig's Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, is a lexicon of invented words.

Not to be difficult but weren't all words 'invented'? Though one wonders if some words, like the chicken and egg, came before the meaning or after the meaning!

Though I never heard 'vellichor' prior to today, I have felt the sensation of vellichor.  Haven't you felt a slight sense of melancholy when walking through a Used Books store?

Many years ago, a dear friend gave me a book to read. It was about consciousness. I'm not sure of the exact title but the cover was inviting; a white background with a glowing rising sun. It was just the type of book I love to read.

I tried reading it many, many times. After a page or two, I would become overwhelmed with dark, somber feelings. I would put the book back on the shelf.  It sat for a long while, untouched.

My friend inquired if I had read it. "No, I apologized, "I can't hold it for more than a minute or two. I've tried, but I read the same pages and just feel overwhelmed with yuckiness!"

He examined his bookcase and gave me a different copy of the same book, then explained that the man who had given him the one he gave me had committed suicide about six months after he read the book. The last two years of his life had been tragic, filled with many losses.

The man's energy and feelings had been left in the book. I was feeling his loss and depression when I held the book, making it too uncomfortable to read.

When we walk into a book store, we are enveloped by a space filled with the energies of the prior readers left behind in the books.  There is happiness and joy, contentment. These is sadness, depression, futility.  So many emotions that we may experience either from the book or from our own situation in life while we are reading the book.

Vellichor sounds so appropriate for the feeling of walking into a used book store. Like velcro, the emotions are stuck to the pages they have touched.






What do you think?

Have you ever experienced an uneasiness or maybe, imagine, joy, when reading a used book?

Do you think we leave our energy in the things we touch, the things we love?

p.s. If you go to WordSalad and read 12 Beautiful Words You've Never Encountered, check out word #3; Moledro! Been there. Might have to do a Friday Moledro group post!



January 11, 2017

New Day

Sun is out! I can hear the water gurgling into the ground and see the clouds of evaporating moisture.

I watched two minutes of what'-his-name's press conference and turned it off.  Felt good. Real good.

Yesterday's rant of anger must have purged my soul because I am in the best mood. Feeling the gratitude.

My great-granddaughter was in hospital for 3 days. RSV is epidemic rates here in Shasta County but she is back to her energetic, powerful self.

We have a brand new great niece, born yesterday morning.

Martha sold her house.

Sun shining through my windows now that Big Ugly is gone.

So, to celebrate feeling so good today...I thought I would share the lyrics to the song I have singing, humming and torturing my poor dogs with this morning. Leslie Bricusse's and Anthony Newley's Feeling Good that Michael Buble sings so well.


FEELING GOOD
Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Reeds driftin' on by
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
I'm feeling good
Fish in the sea
You know how I feel
River running free
You know how I feel
Blossom on the tree
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good
Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun, you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when the day is done, that's what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
For me
Stars when you shine
You know how I feel
Scent of the pine
You know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life






 And I'm feeling good.



Have a great day, all!

January 10, 2017

You Know What? ( Hey, It's Okay, part 2)

Just finished posting "Hey, It's Okay" Tuesday post.

Vacuumed the bedroom (why do dogs shed more in the bedroom than anywhere else in the house?)

While vacuuming I realized that I am really, really, really angry. Not just sad, not just depressed. I am fricking angry.

I am angry that I was accused of saying something about someone, who I love and would never say those things about her. Yet I receive a scathing letter from her accusing me of basically being the scum of the earth. 

I am angry, that my brother, instead of trying to understand my feelings about Trump responded with "the sky is falling, the sky is falling" and calling me a village idiot. Then he unfriends me on FB. Which is okay with me, but then he unfriends my husband! Really? My husband is the Switzerland of relationships. He is the most neutral person in the world.

I am angry and scared because my mom and dad are not thriving. They are both 88. Mom is living in a constant state of anxiety that I can't seem to help relieve in any way. My dad was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's.

I am angry that a man who was as robust and strong and active as my dad has to slowly lose his vitality and strength. I am angry that he is so sad and depressed that his once beautiful park-like acre on the river is just a huge hazard for him.

I am angry because Uncle Francis died on Christmas Eve.

I am angry.

Hey! I am angry, and That's Okay! 

It's Okay Tuesday


It's Hey, Okay Tuesday is here again. (Remember Glamour Magazine and Airing My Laundry)

So, I'm trying to think of what's okay today...

Still thinking...

Really reaching for this one because there is so much 'not okay' today!

I got it! It's okay that the thought of Trump becoming president makes my skin crawl.

It's okay that my brother called me a village idiot because Trump makes my skin crawl.

It's okay that my brother unfriended me on Facebook because he apparently doesn't want village idiots on his team.

It's okay that I haven't finished the quilt for baby Kassie, who arrived this morning at 7:42. I've been sick and don't want my cold-kooties on the quilt.

It's okay that it is still raining and raining and raining and raining and raining.

It's okay that I took an extra 5 minutes in the shower this morning to just be 'one with the water'!

It's okay that I am tossing out so much stuff that used to mean so much to me, though, to save my life, I can't remember why half of it was important.

It's okay that I still feel scared, angry and disgusted about our president-elect.

It's okay that I'm not going to 'get over it' like my conservative family and friends demand.

Well, hell! It just doesn't feel like It's Okay Tuesday, does it?

January 09, 2017

January Cure!


Life has been mega-crazy and stressful for, oh, let's say about two years.

Very little time has been dedicated to taking care of things at home. Two years ago, to make room for family members who moved in with us, we boxed or piled tons of our shit stuff into the garage. I still have two piles of things that couldn't go in garage piled in my bedroom.

All family has moved into their own places. We have space, again, but we still have shit stuff. The garage is busting at the seams. The house is clean but thoroughly unorganized. Correction: Pantry is 100% organized and one drawer in the kitchen is so super-duper shipshape. My floors are clean (well, Friday, they were clean. We have two dogs and it snowed and rained all weekend. I have to tell you that those paw prints really are cute in contrast to the shiny hardwood, and, really, what is a clump or two of fur along the baseboards in the big scheme of life?)

You are probably asking why the pantry and one drawer and floors? Because one has to begin somewhere and, most importantly, I am doing the January Cure through Apartment Therapy.


This is a simple Fly-Lady-like project to help one begin the giant conquest of the looming challenge of getting one's shit stuff together.

I started two days late but it was easy to catch up.

Today's assignment has two parts:

#1 Sit quietly in one of the most challenging rooms and just BE in it. It's a meditation of sorts to help one identify the changes needed.

#2 Choose something (easy-peasy)  to accomplish today from a list we created on day 4 or 5.

Now the 'Cure' isn't the end-all of chores I need to do. There are still regular demands, empty the dishwasher (I should probably run it first) and I really do need to mop up those cute little doggie foot prints to make room for more.

Then there are the million and one books I have promised to find new homes. There is a meme on Facebook that reads, "It's not hoarding if it's books!"  When I looked around the house, it dawned on me that it is, in fact, hoarding.  Every bookshelf in the house (and there are many) is double deep in books. Do you know how much dusting that is?

So, after I do my meditation and assignment for the day, I am going to box up at least two dozen of my books (they are only books, they are only books, they are only books, they are only books, they are only books) and give them away or toss them out. Then I will get on my knees and pray for forgiveness because I'm pretty sure tossing our a book is a sin, a mortal sin.

If you are looking for an easy inspiration for ship-shaping your home, you should check out the January Cure.

Got to go fix some tea and prepare to sit in the living room for 15 minutes and get a feel for the 'new' use for the old space.

Have a good day, friends.

January 04, 2017

Right Now Wednesday

Susan at Color Me Writing has come up with Right Now Wednesday. It sounds fun to see what everyone is up to. Play along!

Drinking: Vanilla Almond tea that my daughter-in-law gave me. Ooooooh, yum!




 Reading: Rise Of The Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt, about the women (not girls) who worked on the space program.

Watching: We had a huge dead tree cut down in the backyard last week. We called it Big Ugly. I'm blown away by how much sky is visible, how much light is in the house and how much privacy we lost. Who knew Big Ugly had his good points!







Listening: Sarah Mclachlen CD, "Closer". Again, Yum!



Creating: As soon as I'm finished procrastinating on Blogger, I have to finish the quilt I am making for Kassie, who is due to be born in 4 days! Better get on it!



Planting: Ideas for the new year...mostly, purge, purge, purge.





Buying:  Buying? Really? I should be selling. I'm not even going to buy groceries. If it isn't in the pantry or fridge, than we don't need it. 





Dropping:  Anxiety and fear and excuses. Gonna try, anyway!



Wrapping: Wrapping up all the paperwork to get our taxes done ASAP.

Anticipating: My birthday. I've decided that I will start celebrating my birthday today and continue through the 24th. Actual birthday is the 18th but I'm going to make 66 the new 29!  I'm doing it big. My wish list: Every day someone will find a book (or two) on my bookshelves to take home with them to love.

Baking:  Me? Oh, Susan, I love your sense of humor!

 

Snow Day...not

My husband is a kid. Just a big kid in grownup's clothing who is passionate about the weather.

The 1st of January, the weathermen on channels 7, 12, 24, and 30 promised dropping temps through the night and the possibility of snow early the morning of the 2nd.

Frank, being the weather-nut that he is, has many, many weather instruments throughout the house. He can tell you everything about the weather, today, yesterday, and year-to-date! Rain, humidity, wind (sustained and gusts), barometric temperature, etc.

Expecting snow, every 15 minutes he announces the dropping temperatures. Big smile on his handsome face. Around dusk, he starts checking the sky. Dark but Clear.

6:15: Clear, temperature about 37.

6:35: Clear, temp 36.

6:55: Clear, 36

7:10: Clear, 35

7:20: Clear, 35

7:30:  What? Are those clouds? Oh, no! Clouds were not expected until morning. He paces back and forth. The clouds are going to hold in the warm air (did I tell you it was 35 degrees?).

Back and forth for the next couple of hours. Temperature stable at 35. Clouds, lots and lots of damn clouds!

Arms crossed on his chest and wrinkled forehead, he goes to bed.

Next morning. Sunshine! Only about an hour of sunshine but one would have thought the world was ending. The temperature had risen all the way to 39.

No snow for Frank today.

Clouds rolled in and rain started, a very pathetic rain here at our house yet there were incredible downpours surrounding us. Every 15 to 20 minutes I get a report of what the 'old' rain gauge is measuring and what the new rain gauge is showing and what The Weather Channel says is happening. He is not happy, especially when I tell him there is a Mother Ship just above the house deflecting the rain.

He wants it to snow so bad, you would think he has a sled and boots and button nose and eyes of coal all ready to race out to play with. He hates snow! I want to move and he will not even consider any location that gets snow yet he is passionate about it snowing here. Just once a year. I'm sure he is just  thinking photo op and extremes on his year-to-date reports of his various weather instruments. Maybe it is just the kid in him that grew up in the dessert.

I-5 is closed north of us all the way to the Oregon border. Chains are necessary west and east of us and there is a flood advisory for the area south of us. Right here in our neighborhood, it is partly cloudy, windy and the temperature is 45. Yawn!

Everyone, every place, in the world is getting 'weather' today but us. All these instruments measuring mundane, plebeian, weather.

Luckily, he is married to me! I'm thinking that, while he is at work, I might pour a cup of water into each of his rain gauges and climb up on the roof with a fan and give him a couple of record gusts!




January 03, 2017

Just What The Dr. Ordered!

What color is contentment?  Is it a sea green or a light turquoise? Whatever the color or tone is, paint me and put me on the happy shelf.

This last week blossomed into exactly what a doctor would have ordered, if I had had the courage to walk in and tell her that something was wrong, seriously, seriously wrong with me.

My knuckles have been dragging for so long, that I can't remember the last time I could stand up straight and mean it!

On the evening of the 28th, my son and his family drove up the driveway, fell out of their SUV after at least a 10 hour drive and staggered into the house. We visited for a couple of hours, then off to bed.

My head on my pillow, tears in my eyes, I couldn't remember the last time I felt so peaceful and at ease.

Their visit of several days filled me with an incredible sense of joy. My other son and his wife joined us most evenings with their daughters. We played games and laughed until our faces hurt. We shared late night games with daughter and family who recently relocated to Massachusetts (thank goodness for winter break from school because we kept the girls up all night).

One night we barely missed the sunrise as we fought world-wide epidemics in a new game one of the kids got for Christmas.

My bliss meter steadily rose to the top and "runneth over"!

I nearly forgot how good it feels to feel good! Thank you, family, for reminding me and gifting me that shot in the arm!