* A NEW YEAR AND A NEW WORD FOR THE YEAR? *

I've read a few blog and Facebook posts recently where people are sharing their "word" for the year. You know, words like positive, love, peace, etc. (and please, if any of you have chosen and written about any of those words, I swear I either didn't even see your post, or I don't remember, because I'm definitely not writing with anyone in mind!)

I made the decision years ago not to make New Year's Resolutions any longer. I just wasn't any good at keeping them, no matter how simple they were, and all that ever happened was that I felt like a failure. Not a good way to start a new year...or even a new day!

And as a result of that, I choose to continue living my life the way I have for a long, long time. It's about being grateful for all the little things. It's about choosing to be optimistic and happy. And to continue, no matter how slowly it goes, to accomplish those tasks and goals ahead of me.

~~~

"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself." - Lucile Ball

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

 

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This will be a short and sweet Nostalgic Sunday, since it's very close to being Monday!

 

 

 

This picture is one of my favorites, partly because it's probably the only one I have of just my brother Mike, and me, and our dad. But also because we were so happy then. It was Christmas Day approximately 1960. Looks like we were getting ready to go to Mass, or just got home. I vividly remember my outfit, I guess because I loved it so much! It was a gray jumper with a pink blouse. To this day, I still love pink and gray together. Mike is holding his new Chess For Beginners game, and I'm holding my much loved Colorforms! And what is our dad doing? Reading the newspaper, not paying a bit of attention. SO TYPICAL! And he's wearing what I affectionately refer to as his "Barney Fife suit!"....I wonder what's the deal with he and Mike wearing white socks with their suits??

 

Ahh, such a happy time in my life that ended way too soon......

 

 

Happy 2016 everyone! May this be a year of doors opening and blissful encounters for all!

* IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE 2015 *

Merry Christmas to All!

 

I'm sharing some photos of Christmastime 2011.....Our tree, sweet Vern, and homemade cookies!

 

I really wanted to make homemade Christmas cookies again this year, but it just didn't happen. Maybe if it finally gets cold, and we have snow, I'll make them....for New Year's Day?!

 

 

 

Wishing everyone peace and happiness.

* A GROCERY STORE ENCOUNTER.....*

I posted this on Facebook this evening and want to share it here, too. 

 

I stopped at a local grocery store today, to buy just one thing....a very important thing. A package of rawhide bones for our dear Vern! (Actually, I bought two packages because he goes through them pretty fast.) Walking from my car to the store entrance, I saw a woman standing on the sidewalk about 50 feet from the door, holding a leash with what looked like a beautiful, very young black Labrador puppy. For a brief moment, I thought she was waiting for a car to come and pick them up, but when I saw her talk to another shopper in front of me, I was pretty sure what was going on. As I got closer, she called out to me, "Would you like to have a puppy?" I kept walking and replied, "I would LOVE to, but I can't right now!" I thought how ironic it was that I was there to purchase chew-bones for my beloved, Vern, who is 14 years old, has a bit of dementia, and cannot hear any more...and I worried about that puppy. I thought about saying something to the employee inside at the Service Counter. Did they know the woman? Was it legit? Should I call the Humane Society? Usually someone has a cardboard box with a sign "Free Puppies" on it, and so I just didn't feel right about it...and yet I did none of those things, but hoped that someone would stop and give that beautiful puppy a loving, forever-home. What would you have done? I'm still thinking about that little puppy....

 

“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.” - Dean Koontz

* JUST PLAIN SILLY *

Since it's winter and I do quite a bit of driving in the dark, the following funny quote, from one of my *favorite movies, always pops into my head:


State Trooper: Do you have any idea how fast you were going?

Del: Funny enough, I was just talking to my friend about that. Our speedometer has melted and as a result it's very hard to see with any degree of accuracy exactly how fast we were going.


You're probably asking yourself what this has to do with my driving...

Well, I think a couple of the tiny fuses that light up my dashboard have quit working, because for a few weeks now, I can only see how much gas is in the car! No other gauges are lit up, like if I need oil, or if my car is overheating, etc. Also, I have no idea how fast I'm driving (which is usually pretty darn fast!) or anything about the RPMs.

So, I just pretty much "go with the traffic flow" and hope for the best.

Now, that is just plain silly, isn't it??!!


*Oh, and the name of that movie.....

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

 

 

 

Traffic cop checking out the situation

 

But the radio still works...clear as a bell!





* NEW THOUGHTS ON FOLLOWING MY BLISS *

Last week I had one of those moments where a thought just popped into my head and made perfect sense. I was in bed, trying to go to sleep, but my brain had other ideas...ha ha! Get it...my brain had other "ideas"!? (Sorry for the groaner, but I'm still going pretty much on lots of coffee and a lack of Zzzzs... due to working three full days and three half days last week.)

So...the thought that popped into my head was all about "following your bliss"... and isn't that what my blog and I are all about?! You've seen the following poem on my side bar:

"Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.”
-- Joseph Campbell

 

Both of my part-time jobs just happened to come along, when I wasn't even looking!

"...you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open..."
 
And yes, both jobs are rewarding and fun, and yes I'm following my bliss!

And then a powerful thought: Stop worrying about whether I'm writing or not writing...Enjoy where I am at this moment, and the writing will come.

~~~

 

When my friend, Robin Theiss, first told me about Joseph Campbell's quote, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I immediately felt like those words had been written especially for me. I still find it very powerful every time I read it. 

 

I hope all of you are following your bliss, but if you aren't, please give it a try.

 

Wishing you all a beautiful, blissful 2nd week of December!



 

 

A horse drawn carriage on Main Street in old St. Charles, Mo.
This was taken in December of 2009.



* YIKES, IT'S DECEMBER! *

Right now, my two part-time jobs are kickin' my butt! Yesterday when I got into my car, I had to stop and think which job I was going to and which highway I needed to get on! LOL

Actually, it's not that bad, but I'm looking forward to working only one job after this Saturday. (Have I even mentioned the two jobs? Long story as to how I came upon the second one and got hired the day of my interview, even after I was AN HOUR LATE for it!)

My posts will probably be even fewer this month, but I hope everyone knows that you're always in my thoughts. Maybe I'll just post a photo or two every now and then....

 

December 2008

... like these two wacky pictures of myself from December of 2008. Gosh, it doesn't seem that long ago!

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Welcome to my newest follower, Dawn.

 

I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thanks so much.

 

P.S. - Dawn, please leave a comment with your blog or website. When I click on your photo, a link pops up for about one second and disappears before I can even click on it.

 

 

                                              ~~~

 

 

"How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" - Dr. Seuss

 

 

* MY COUNTDOWN TO THANKSGIVING - DAY 8 *

* Countdown to Thanksgiving *

 

Wow, tomorrow is Thanksgiving! How did the fourth Thursday in November arrive so fast?!

 

 

I just love these adorable pilgrim salt & pepper shakers!

They're from the grocery store, Publix, which is in the South.

My sister, Marian, sent them to me as a little gift in 2010.

 

Both of these photos are a bit blurry.
I'll have to take new pictures,
just as soon as I dig through more boxes! J

 

I was a bit melancholy the first couple of years we didn't have all of our grown kids and grandkids over for our Thanksgiving get-together. We always had our dinner the Saturday before most actual holidays, because it just made it so much better for them. No pressure and/or guilt about trying to make it to X number of houses, and X number of dinners....but this year, I am feeling much happier about going to one of their homes tomorrow! All I'm bringing is a couple of bottles of wine!

 

 

 

One of my favorite Thanksgiving/Christmas movies:

Miracle on 34th Street...the original, in black and white.

 

 

Fred: That baseball player sure looks like a giant to me.

 

Susan: Sometimes people grow very large, but that's abnormal.

 

Fred: I'll bet your mother told you that, too.

 

 

~~~