Be unique!

For those of you "jonsing" about C@boy, this post is for you.  It speaks to the fact that we can, and do, ALL re-invent ourselves.  Most of you who are "Cat People," have many beds throughout the house.  In my house, most of these are left empty for the past few years.  C@boy has taken to wanting nests instead.  He does spend time in the front window watching "Bird and Squirrel T.V," so maybe that has caused him to change his ways. He also scrapes and scratches all around his food so as to bury it like a Puma.  So we now have a cat-bird-puma.  I love that he has so many sides!  I am not too sure why I bring this up except that we ALL are interesting and interested, even, and best of all, our pets.

Take a risk!

I am really good at giving advice.  I am getting better at taking it, but it hasn't been easy.  Today I took a risk.  It was something that has scared me for many years.  I listened to my gut and just jumped in.  There are lots of questions, and "what if's," but I have decided to follow through.  Could I be more vague?  Probably not, but it doesn't matter.  This is about getting out of our comfort zone, and habits to go for something new.  The more scared I feel, the more I know I am about to do something big!  So, I am scared, and excited, and expectant.  I will follow through.  Come with me on this.  Take a risk if your gut tells you to.  Lets be scared, and ALIVE, together!

You are perfect....

when you feel good in your own skin.  This is a paraphrase of something I read a while ago.  It rang true to me so I thought I would share it with you.  I have always been "different."  Sometimes it has caused me a lot of pain.  But I just am who I am.  My feelings have changed over the years, and now I celebrate all the parts of me.  This is not to say that I am happy with everything I do, but, for the most part, I really like myself, because of all the differences. Then, I try to re invent myself every few years, to not get bored or boring. So for today, think of all the ways you feel good about yourself.  There will be more than you think. Then look at the beauty of nature and see that not one flower or rock or tree is the same, but they are a wonder just the way they are. 

Find things to love

Think about how you feel when you love something.  Is is the best feeling in the world?  I know how I feel when I think about how much I love C@boy! I know how I feel when I think about anyone I love.  Isn't euphoria great?!?  But I also love sunsets, the beach, a warm wind, a good book, a good laugh, a long walk, a smooth stone, well, you get the idea.  I wonder how much we think about the things that make our life worthwhile. Maybe today, we can make a mental list of the things that make our heart sing.  

Can you spell ELITE EIGHT?

GO ZAGS!  BEAT DUKE!!!!

Try to find the....

funny in life.  It seems as if life is so serious lately.  Planes are being crashed on purpose, wars are expanding, people in the government will not agree to do what is best for us.  Personally, I have stopped watching the news as much as I used to.  But there is something we CAN do.  We can try to find the funny side of life in things.  There are so many ways to look at our every day life and I find there is always something humorous.  It may be that I laugh at myself.  I do that a lot, but I also, there are always things that can make me laugh if I look for them.  So for today, and forward, I am planning to find something to laugh about AT LEAST once or twice a day.  You know what they say "Laughter is the best medicine!"  Maybe that will be one way to heal us.  Try it with me!

Here's a good one!

There is a saying I read recently.  It says "never complain, never explain."  While I don't like the word "never," this saying has real merit! When I was younger, and even sometimes now, I feel the need to explain myself.  What a bad habit.  It always makes me feel bad and makes me feel a little less.  For a while, I have learned to stop myself from doing this.  That feels REALLY good!  We all know how it feels to complain, and it doesn't seem to make matters better. So for today and forward, if I get in that mode, I will stop and change direction.  After all, we are all humans, on this earth school, doing the best we can. 

Welcome back, Russia

We have missed you!

**it happens!

Well, it has been a couple of days....  On Sunday, C@boy got pretty sick.  He was throwing up all over the place and his other end was not having fun either.  This went on for several hours, but I am happy to report, he is back to his normal self.  Then, yesterday, the computer came down with a case of the hiccups.  It didn't matter how many times I said "Boo" or even that I threatened to put it in a paper bag, it would not co operate!  The boyfriend and my 94 year old friend both got a cold, but they are on the mend.  I am so grateful that I NEVER GET SICK!  Now, if I could just get some sleep!

Today is...

"National give Yourself a Gift day."  I love making up new holidays.  So for today, think of something you really want.  The catch is it cannot cost any money!!!!  Does that leave you flummoxed? Well, then you can look up flummoxed, or you can spend a little time thinking of something you can do for yourself.  I am going to spend time with a good friend, brush C@boy, and take a long hot bath with bubbles while chanting, after all, it is a rainy day and a Monday (in most places.)  Think of something that will make you feel good, and costs nothing but time.  We seldom do that.  It can be your new spring ritual!

It all makes "sence"

We are all (well most of us) wending our way out of winter and into spring.  We are going from hibernation to growth.  In hibernation, our breathing slows as do many of our bodily functions.  But now is the time to start using them all again.  Have you been out for a walk lately?  No, I am not just talking about from the car to the house or work or store, I mean stretching, deep breathing, out to the park, or woods, or neighborhood moving about.  What I have noticed on these walks is all the green, the and the almost sweetness of the air.  People are smiling, the pace is picking up.  Some of the flowers are blooming from their long winter's nap.  It is positively intoxicating.  So, if you haven't taken this precious step to wake yourself up, do it now, today.  See what happens.

No voice today!

I love basketball, but just a few teams who have players I have been following from college. I also have a favorite college team who got into the 32 last night.  It was a good game and I have the lack of voice to prove it.  I will not jinx it by naming the team, but I wish them the best as they play again on Sunday for the SWEET SIXTEEN!  GO.....!!!!!!!

It's a start....

There are three states who have vote by mail for elections.  Ballots are sent to your house and all you have to do is be an informed voter and vote.  It costs one stamp and the ride to the ballot box.  How easy is that?!  There are other states who have the combination of being able to vote in person, or mail in a ballot.  That is good too!  Then there are 19 states who have serious voter suppression which makes it nearly impossible for certain people to vote at all. That is a bunch of crap!  It is our right to be able to vote!  I seem to remember the "Voter's Rights Act," of 1965!!!!!!!!  Once again, the rich old white men have decided that they want it their way, even if they have to cheat to get it, and they do.  Can you spell "redistricting?"  But here comes Oregon... People are now registered to vote who have a driver's licence automatically!  You are not obliged to vote, you can opt out, but what an easy way to be registered.  I don't know about you, but I take my right to vote very seriously.  So become informed about your state's laws, it's as easy as a click on the computer. Become part of the solution!

Sweet Lou

Some people come into your life who are almost unbelievable.  Lou was one of these people.  She was so full of grace and kindness, never said a bad word about anyone and was always happy and concerned about everyone else.  She had an ongoing illness, and a severely disabled child.  She also had a devoted husband.  She just kept on going.  She would work even when she was ill, her strength was phenomenal!  A few years ago, she and her husband were in a car accident.  Her husband died and she almost died.  She recovered from this, even with her illness.  THE WOMAN WAS A WARRIOR! I guess I have a different idea of death because I am so happy for her to get to be with her husband and out of the body that was so ill. She has a large family who will love and care for her son, so that's good.  We need to honor ALL our strong women.  They handle a lot more than we give them credit for.  Thanks, Lou!

Pick something up

When I was younger, I had several jobs in retail.  I was constantly folding, straightening, hanging and picking things up.  It has stuck with me all these years.  I do the same thing in which ever store I shop.  Some people look at me funny.  (Well, they sometimes do anyway), but I continue to do it, partly out of habit, but also because it saves someone else having to do it.  It makes me feel good to contribute in some small way.  What would happen if we all did this?  It could mean picking up someone's mood, or picking up a friend's child, or anything.  Join me in the "great pick up!"  See what happens!

Good Car Karma

Wow!!!  I have had a second good experience with my car!  I went to get my snow tires removed and also have two tires changed out to different rims.  I also had them dispose of two old tires.  These wonderful people were prompt, friendly, and reasonably priced!  I am not going to tell you who they are, but their initials are L.S. and I will go back to them for all my automotive repairs, etc.  Yeah for both of us, and a big thanks to them!  You'd better believe I will tell everyone I know how wonderful you are! 

Welcome back India!

We are so glad to see you! 

Sometimes.....

Life is like the weather.  We have been having a lot of rain for the past two days.  We had so much it broke a record!  Remember how I told you about cleaning out a garden bed a few weeks ago?  Well, guess what!  It is all full of weeds again. HARRUMPH!  While the rain was needed because of our light winter, it is just another reminder of the one step forward and two steps back life sometimes takes.  So for today I will look for my mud boots while it sort of dries up, and be grateful we are not in a drought.  Then I will gingerly muck my way out and remove those pesky weeds before it rains again.  I will love the warm, fresh air and the fact that I am healthy enough to pull the weeds, yet again.  The good news is that some of the new weeds are catnip and C@boy is ecstatic!  There is always good news in the bad, somewhere!

An observation

Yesterday I dropped a bottle of my favorite bar b q sauce on the floor in the kitchen.  As you can guess, I had quite a mess.  Even though it was a glass jar, the only thing that broke was the lid.  Yech, and what a waste.  I was more upset to lose the sauce, than to clean up the sticky mess.  Fortunately, I save jars, so I had another one to put the left over sauce in.  Then, I started to wonder, do I have another lid that would fit the bottle.  As it turns out, I had a lid from the Kombucha I drink.  It made me think about the fact that there are really only a few sizes of lids for all the bottles and jars we use.  H mmm.  It made me think that we are just all jars and bottles of different sizes, holding different things but with common lids.  Isn't that interesting?!  Think about it.

Oops!

In my effort to appreciate two fine young men yesterday, I went all old school and called their employer the "wrecking yard."  It is a well run auto salvage business.  MY BAD!

Two more fine humans!

Women and cars.  When I was younger, it wasn't a problem to gap plugs, and change the oil.  Heck, I even re-built a carburetor once.  However, these days, I prefer to just drive it and put gas in it.  Lately, and for a few years, I have had a less than wonderful experience with car issues, because I am a woman.  I always feel as if I am getting ripped off, and believe me, they try.  Yesterday was a different day!  I called my local wrecking yard to find a pair of tires.  The first person I spoke to was Luis.  He was friendly and professional.  He sent me to Javier who had the tires I needed.  I asked questions, told him the size I needed and he was so helpful and treated me with respect.  I want to believe that these brothers are recognized for the courtesy they show and their professional manner.  I will certainly tell every one I know to use this business because of my experience.

If we are right with life...

anything is possible.  We all know that life is hard and sometimes we are on our own making decisions that seem o k at the time.  Or, we become desperate and just make wrong decisions that hurt other's.  What matters is that we recognize that.  I was watching Mike Tyson on a talk show yesterday.  He is a completely different person than he used to be.  Let me back up.  He is the person he always was, but he has chosen to become healthy and access all the goodness that was deep inside him.  If he can go through all the pain of growth and come out the other side, I know that all of us can do the same thing IF WE CHOOSE TO.  I applaud and appreciate all the hard work it takes anyone to come out the other side as their real and best self.

It's true!

For those of you who tune in every day, I am sorry I haven't been writing every day.  Two things have been happening.  The first thing is that my computer is very old and some days, it just doesn't co operate.  The second thing is that I have written 570 posts and some days I just draw a blank.  I am trying to do better, but there is nothing I can do about the computer at this time, so bear with me and I will try and get something to you. I know that everything we do matters, and your continued support matters greatly to me! 

Use it...

or lose it!  Yesterday I was doing an exercise I seldom do.  I was going at it like crazy because it felt so good! (get your mind right!)  Anyway, what I am learning is that starting out slowly is usually the right way to do things.  It can be a beautiful day, and we can feel good, but we get rusty and need to know that.  Today, I will rest myself and try and think about MODERATION IN ALL THINGS!  It sounds boring to me, too, until I realize how much I hurt from NOT being that way. C@boy is giving me a lecture on the importance of stretching!  He says to have a good day!

How long are we

going to let the fox be in charge of the hen house???

I have some questions.

This is so big and discouraging, I don't know where to start.  We just celebrated the 50th anniversary of the March on Selma.  This is the year of 2015, and yet our civil rights are being shaken to their very roots.  This BACKWARD MOVEMENT is being supported by our Supreme Court.  WHY?  People do things in the name of religion which segregate us from each other.  WHY?  Women are being taken back to the 60's, and treated like second class citizens.  WHY?  A police department is being all but dismantled because of despicable behavior toward people of color, yet, they have not been found guilty of murdering a young black man.  In fact, there have been many of these cases in other areas, and NOT ONE PERSON has been held accountable for any of these murders. WHY?  We have watched these tragedies unfold on video and STILL NO ACCOUNTABILITY!  WHY?  Nothing good can come from what is happening.  ALL PEOPLE need to feel safe,  all people need to be treated with dignity and respect.  THEY need to treat others THE WAY THEY WANT TO BE TREATED.  The old, rich white men are just going to continue to HATE.  What are we willing to do to change this? One way is for the goodness in us to rise up EVERYWHERE and be heard.  The darkness cannot live in all that light.

Know that...

what you do matters!  I know we all feel like small fish in a large pond, but sometimes we forget what happens when a fish jumps.  It makes a ripple and that spreads over the pond.  When we make even a small gesture toward goodness, it is felt and many times repeated by another.  So don't diminish what you do if you are unable to do it on a grand scheme.  Every little act counts, and if we are consistent in our acts, things can only change for the better.  We could sure use some of that!

It's O. K.

to say "no!"  Sometimes I become the "go along to get along" person.  It works for a while, but I have learned that it comes at a sacrifice.  Who is the person who regulates our happiness?  It certainly is not other's!  While they might contribute to it, we are the only ones who know what we need and want.  I am not saying that we are correct all the time, but giving ourselves away to someone else's ideas seldom works out for our joy.  We become "someone else."  Then, and I don't know about you, I get mad and feel taken advantage of.  It is of course up to us to know ourselves well enough to realize we are out of balance.  That takes practice.  Practice with me!

H B T Y! H B T Y! :)

Today is a most auspicious day!  Someone's beloved cat is 19!  In case you didn't know, that is 133 in human years!  He is pretty frisky and lively for that age, when he isn't napping!  His coat is still shiny, he has all his teeth, his eyes are clear, and he talks to me all the time.  So this year, he wants to reinvent himself.  He will now be known as C@boy!  He thinks this is clever and wants to have something new to put on the BOOK HE IS CURRENTLY WRITING!!!!  After all, he has written 27 posts, and now, he thinks he is ready.  I am so proud of him, and as soon as he wakes up, I will tell him that and sing "Happy Birthday!"

Who are we?

In the grand scheme of things, I believe people have goodness in them.  Then I see stories of people bullying other's.  I just don't get it.  I have been bullied, when I was younger, it stung, and I just couldn't understand why this was happening.  I guess I was one of the lucky ones whose parent always told me how worthwhile I was.  I had a pretty good sense of who I was, so I just blew the insults off.  But what happens to the child/person who does not feel this way?  I don't understand the mind of a bully.  Are they better than me?  Does acting in this evil way make them better?  Does hurting someone, (and they can only hurt you if you let them) make them better?  I just don't get it.  If you are mad or frustrated, go out and run, pound a pillow, talk to someone.  Maybe you look in the mirror and say that awful stuff to yourself. (self talk)  Or, maybe someone else is doing this to you so you don't know any better.  IF SO, GET HELP!  The world is hard enough without bullying!  Let's all do something to stop it!

Renew and re-invent!

Catboy and I, at least in our minds, have declared it Spring!  To heck with that rodent in the mid - U.S.  In that light, we have decided to put our Spring attitudes, in his case, cattitude, in motion.  We are full of surprises and newness.  Stay tuned, later in the week for that information.  In the meantime, you can declare your own Spring and come up with some new things also.  Time to grow and bloom!

When you hit the brick wall...

start over!  Many times I start something with the best of intentions.  Probably as many times, I don't have everything I need to complete my objective, whether it is planning, or something pops up to derail it.  The lesson I am learning is that it is O K to start over.  Somehow I was never taught that.  It is freeing to be able to know that not completing something is O K if I look for and find a different solution.  Sometimes it is as easy as looking at it upside down, or thinking of the outcome and working backward to achieve it.  It all comes down to patience, flexibility, and having faith in our own ability to make things happen.