* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

 

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

I know, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, and believe me I am NOT one to rush Christmas and decorations, etc. But, I'm cleaning out the closet in the bedroom where my desk and laptop is. Attempting to cram as much "things to keep" stuff in it, and get rid of the stuff "I really can let go of."

 

 

See, all this has to do with desperately needing to get organized, so I can WRITE and not have clutter stressing me out. That's my biggest "chore" right now. I hate clutter!

 

 

 

So, anyway, I came across this photo taken at an office party in 1984! I was a couple of weeks away from my 32nd birthday in January of '85. OMG, I was so young, slender and cute!....If I do say so myself! Yes, that is a glass of beer in my hand, too! (Ron must've taken this photo because he was at the party with me, of course!)

In my mind, I still feel like that same young woman. I feel as if I look just like that, too. The human brain is so interesting. We all know we will age, and yet when we're young, it seems as if we never will! And then all of a sudden, poof... 20, 30, 40 years go by and we're staring into the mirror at an old, wrinkly person.

I think mirrors should not

be allowed in our Baby Boomer homes!

We could fix our hair and put on make-up,

looking into our rearview car mirror!

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

It's another busy weekend at home. I'm still going through a ton of boxes, baskets, and stacks of writerly/office kind of stuff. So much paper! Before we moved, I know I went through some of the very same boxes and baskets and got rid of a lot. Now that I'm trying to make everything "fit" into the guest room/home office, I'm throwing out even more. Thank goodness I recycle!

What does that have to do with nostalgia? Some old photos are included in some of those boxes. I finally told myself I will never get this room finished if I stop and look at every one. So I skim through them and toss them all into one big box. There will be time for them later.

~~~

More instances of nostalgia.

These S&P shakers belonged to my paternal grandma. She had quite a large collection by the time she passed away many years ago. She allowed us granddaughters and other relatives to choose some at the last reunion we had in 1986. (Because of that, I began to start my own collection. I think I have about 10 or 15 pair. Nothing like my grandma had! They really are great to collect, too, because they're usually very inexpensive and don't take up a lot of space.) One of my cousins recently moved across the country and downsized considerably. She generously asked if I'd like to have the pair above of Nipper, the RCA dog and I said SURE!

Remember Nipper? I mentioned him in a blog I wrote about Vern on 10/15/2011. http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/search?q=RCA&max-results=20&by-date=true

Most of you know how much I love tea cups and tea pots. These are adorable S&P shakers! I received them yesterday from a very good and OLD friend of mine...(since grade school!) She gave them to me as a house warming gift. Wasn't that sweet? I just love them! 

And as I'm decluttering this room today, I'm also listening to the Oldies radio station. Ahhhh....memories...nostalgia...

I have other things to share but I'll wait until the next Nostalgic Sunday.

~~~

** Monday, August 12th: I've been playing around with my blog template, background, etc. After spending way too much time on it, I've "kind of" decided this ampersand one is okay...at least for now. I would like to know others' opinions. Honest ones! You can leave them in the comment section or e-mail me. (the address is on my profile page)

To Do List is Not Done List

My To Do List is still an out-of-control Not Done List.

I didn't make it to very many blogs over the weekend to do my Comment Like Crazy.

I'm a bit behind in my Month of Letters Challenge.

I 'm trying to get a short story finished in time for a contest deadline of this Saturday.

I'm simultaneously working on three different chapters of my memoir.

My house is a cluttered mess that I just keep looking at and thinking, I really need to take some time to get this straightened up....

(courtesy: google)

But, I know I will get it all done. One step at a time. Take five minutes to straighten up a room. (NO, that won't finish the task, but it's a beginning!)

I'll keep on plugging away at my writing, and it will bring rewards, too.

*Oh, and I will continue Commenting Like Crazy and Writing Letters, as much as I can.*


"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."
Henry Ford

"When I face the desolate impossibility of writing 500 pages, a sick sense of failure falls on me, and I know I can never do it. Then gradually, I write one page and then another. One day’s work is all that I can permit myself to contemplate."
John Steinbeck


"The first step is to find out what you love – and don’t be practical about it. The second step is to start doing what you love immediately, in any small way possible." Barbara Sher

Surrounded by Books

Have you ever seen that episode on "Two and a Half Men" where Alan totally loses it in the book store? He's sad and upset that his little boy is growing up and doesn't need him as much anymore. So, Charlie, actually trying to be helpful, tells Alan that now he'll have the time to do the things he really wants to do. At first, Alan agrees and is happy, thinking about reading....and then becomes unglued, thinking he doesn't have enough time left in his life to read all the books he yearns to read. He starts yelling as he pulls one book after another off the shelves, and finally slips down onto the floor, sobbing as he drops books everywhere. (I found it hilarious, but then I have a warped sense of humor.)

 (courtesy: Google)

Yesterday afternoon I was attempting yet again to de-clutter my loft. It's such a beautiful room, with large windows, a ceiling fan, overlooks our entry foyer. I also have my collection of CD's, a few books and knick-knacks on a shabby-chic bookshelf. But, since we really don't use the room, over the years it's become my "craft" room. I work on my homemade cards there. I stash old photos, magazines and books in there. All with the promise to myself that I'll get it cleaned up and organized soon. But, unfortunately, the minute I walk past it, going down the stairs, I forget about it...until the next time I come up the stairs, go down the stairs, etc.

So, yesterday, I said to myself, "Self, you are going to get a good start on this room. You have no excuses, particularly since you're in kind of a writing slump!"  Hmmm...KIND OF?!

First things first. Pull out all the books that are in the shelf with really deep shelves, and then dust it. OMG, I found all kinds of books that I'd completely forgotten I had! It was like Christmas.....at first...but then, I began to feel a little like Alan. I have all these books I WANT to read. Some I even began at one time, but for some reason, just couldn't get into. Novels, memoirs, How-To books about writing (boy, do I ever need to start on those!)...

       (photo: courtesy The Overweight Bookshelf blog)

So, I began stacks of books.

One - books to definitely read asap.

Two - books to read after I read all in stack number one.

Three - books to donate to library

Four - books to use in my blog give-aways

Five - books to sell in our Saturday Writers Silent-Auction

I found myself completely surrounded by books and feeling overwhelmed. That's when the TV episode crossed my mind. I also felt a bit like the girl in the photo above, only I was sitting on the floor. How had this happened? Why wasn't I reading as much as I used to? I can think of two reasons: The time I spend writing my book, and the time I spend blogging. I need to make up my mind what the most important thing(s) are in my life (besides family & friends) and spend quality time on those. And reading is being pushed up to Number One for the month of July.

What about you? Do you have a task you keep putting off? Do you feel you are spending your time on what's really important to YOU?

Welcome to my newest follower: Jo. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you! 

"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead." —Louisa May Alcott