06/30/2023

"I fear my storms, not realizing

they are the most beautiful part

of what makes me human."

~janine tamis

For shame, we do not realize

the proper value of our storms

and their place in our lives. It's

something to which I'm giving

much thought of late . . .

A couple of my besties are here

today and I'm cooking? Does

anyone recall what that's like?!

I have made more mess, more

dirty dishes, more bads and I'm

exhausted . . . not even brunch

time yet!

Still, for whatever reason, I've

held it together and proud of

myself. My guy tends to do

what I think of as "Explosion

Technique!" Used to scare the

bejesus out of me . . . now I

just try to blow it off!

Sooooo, here's to remembering

that these little nasties are all

about being human and let them

go!

Are you listening, ld?

06/29/2023

"Make today so awesome

that yesterday gets jealous."

Motivational Life

Yesterday was such a gift . . .

Could today possibly be even 

better?!

Speaking of yesterday, one 

of my favest cousins came to 

spend precious time with me.

Loved it all . . . the expectation,

prepping, sharing and laughing,

eating . . . and finally growing

tired.

Now that I'm a proper hundred

years old, I find myself telling

guests I must away to my bed

for a long winter's nap. Can't

help but wonder what they 

must think of me!

Today, I am expecting a special,

special friend for the evening. 

And on the morrow, we'll be

joined in a champagne brunch

by our third. Such fun . . . hope

we have long times a comin'

for more champagne brunches. 

I have confessed to seasonal

sorrows . . . SAD, if you will.

Alas, 'tis now summer proper

and I find it is not passing this

time around. 

I am ever so grateful for the 

gift of these visits, they may 

just save my life . . .

06/28/2023

"You have eternity to sleep and

only one small lifetime to live.

Get out and run with the wolves."

~Amelia Dashwood

The woman says it all and well

'tis something to think about! 

As I approach these final years 

of my life, I find myself thinking

about all that wasted time I have 

spent sleeping.

I do give myself credit for all my

wondrous adventures, life lived

rather than simply existed. Still,

there are a few dreams I let slip

'twix and 'tween my fingers.

I wish I had spent more years in

the home my father built for me.

I look back at those years I ran

26 K a day in marathon prep. I

so remember cooking meals in

my fireplace coals. Yum! And to

say naught of camp cooking.

Looking back, I see I am fondly

recalling things I actually lived

and did rather than wished I had

done. Kudos to moi!

Obviously, somewhat hampered

by that whole age thing, still I am

going to strive to keep on living,

experiencing, enjoying!

Living over existing anytime, any

place, any how . . .

06/27/2023

"It's important for everyone to

have a bit of a naughty streak."

~Unknown

When do I ever get to be

unhealthy, if not now?! I'm

nigh onto a hundred years

old and I want to be properly

naughty before I die!

Ice cream for breakfast, margs

for brunch, grilled cheese sands

for lunch, and lots of spag for

supper. Wow! Methinks I'm

getting fat just thinking of this

daydream!

For me, naughty is all about

breaking the rules. No food

intended! Go to bed early, stay

up late. Hell, read all night if

you want to! Get up late or

don't even get up at all. A day

a bed w/a good book and choc-

chip cookies can be a wondrous 

thing.

Bottom line, we've all had rules

our entire lives. Time to color

outside the lines. Let's just find

out what it feels like to be a tad

naughty!

06/26/2023

"I'm gonna walk right out of

this heavy heart into the bare

boned beauty of a new start."

~A. Shea

We all love new starts, yearn 

after them, long for the positive 

changes they bring.

But . . . Do they have to begin

on January first? The first day 

of the month? The first day of 

the new week? A new day?

Methinks 'twould be a good 

idea if we could just wrap our

heads 'round the thought that

new beginnings can happen at

any moment.

In the middle of a song that

moves us. Halfway through a

meal. At the end of a chat with

a good friend.

We have trained our minds to

the thought of a logical place

for it to begin . . . this need not

be.

Let's give up those old ideas

and create one new beginning

right this min. We can support

each other in our endeavors. 

AA isn't the only place friends

support each other!

06/25/2023

 . . . and when they call you

'too much', please remember

too much feeling, too much

truth and too much love is a

beautiful thing. And that is

something the world is sorely 

in need of.

~She Loves Dandelions

I've ever and always been

known as too much. It is 

what it is and I accept this

about myself. And, I know

that I'm not for everyone.

I love those fabulous few I

have found throughout my

life that are different too. I

really don't go in for that

cookie cutter view of life.

I was thinking about all of

this yesterday when a few

neighbors gathered 'round

for a brewski or two.

Listening to the chatter, the

laughter, the knowing . . . I

found myself much moved

by these wondrous souls.

Sooooo, 'too much' it is . . .

Just give me too much life!

06/24/20232

"Don't let this silly world trick

you into starving your soul for

material things. Someday you're

going to be sitting out under the

stars and realize how little you

actually need to be truly happy."

~Brooke Hampton

Precious few find themselves 

not guilty of falling into the 

acquisition trap. We all want the 

best for our families, our loved 

ones.

We start young . . . good grades,

learning to be successful, good

jobs, a fab mate, new house, 

those perfect children.

Still, our souls cry out to us to

see the difference . . . different

values, different goals, different

kinds of acquisition . . . or even

lack thereof.

Questions . . . Is it too late to

learn? Do we even have a second

chance? Have we even acquired

the necessary knowledge to give

ourselves another opportunity?

I sooooo hope we do! I pray that

I do . . .

06/23/2023

Three days of summer,

now come and gone, and 

it's still raining. Methinks 

the deities somehow got 

the seasons mixed up!

Still, I find myself hopeful

for warmer weather soon

to take over my winter

doldrums.

If we are to be gifted a time

of warmer climes, I want to

make certain I don't just sit

inside and let the days go by

unnoticed! 

I have visions of sitting out

and sipping the odd marg. A

few rides taking in changes

in our mountain sceneries. 

Visits to the kids, a priority!

I think what I'm seeing in my

fertile imagination, is a kind

of soul bathing in the warmth

to come. I must, nay I need, 

to spend as much time in the

sun as absolutely possible.

Here's to summer days, long

sunny hours of warmth, chats

and visits w/fam and friends. 

Salud!

06/22/2023 - Summer Solstice, Day 3

"Life isn't about waiting for 

the storm to pass. It's about 

learning to dance in the rain." 

~Vivian Green

Never, ever have I seen such

a storm as last night. Thunder,

hail and rain for roughly nine

hours. 

I found myself much shaken,

needing to be held, thought it

would last forever . . . 

I could see the yard slowly

filling with white. This long

term hale could cover just as

efficiently as any snow. 'Twas

a bit of a bubble-wrap x-mas

in July, if you will.

The entire experience was 

like a giant metaphor. The 

body can only shake so long. 

At some point one must wend 

the way to the jane or grab a

drink of water. And finally, 

the body's need for sleep 

overcomes fear.

Today marks the third day of 

the Summer Solstice. Methinks

the gods must have been dancing

to the drumming of their own

storm . . .

 . . . Happy summer! 

06/21/2023 - Summer Solstice, Day 2

"I would rather sit by the camp-

fire than go to the mall any day!"

~Unknown

Methinks today marks my favest

day of the year . . . the beginning

of summer warmth, the season I

most cherish.

Obviously, this also underlines

the seasons that bring on my

despair . . . winter and its 

tag-alongs, its underlings.

Still, 'tis my intention to enjoy

every single hour of this delightful

season . . ."Let me count the ways!"

The odd trip, picnics in baskets, 

champagne in the afternoon glow,

FACs with friends, summer foods

and invites!

Is there anything I can do, any 

deals I can make, any prayers I

can pray . . . to make this season

last a bit longer?!

Alas, methinks 'tis set in stone . . .

 . . . happy travels ahoy!

06/20/2023 - Summer Solstice, Day 1

"I am out with lanterns looking

for myself." ~Emily Dickinson

My children are grown and fab

people they are too! My grands

are married and bringing the

greats into the world. 

My students are caught in those 

wondrous memories of yesteryear.

I remember them with such joy.

You know, I miss teaching every

single day of my life!

Alas, fantabulous that retirement

may be, it brings about that eternal

question, "So, who am I now?"

A fair question when I think of all

of the above. Frankly, there are 

days I am filled with such sorrow 

because the me I knew no longer 

seems to exist.

As I'm no longer allowed to drive,

I find myself ever so grateful to

those friends stopping by, having

a visit and a brew. It helps!

So yesterday, a friend and colleague 

came to lunch and to say goodbye.

We reminisced over memories of

our students and teaching days. 

She gave me a gift, a precious gift!

Somehow, she kindly reminded me

who I am, not just who I was. 

Grateful beyond the pale . . .

06/19/20223 - Juneteenth

"Junteenth is a federal holiday

in the US commemorating the

emancipation of enslaved 

African Americans. It is

celebrated on the anniversary

of the order by Major General

Gordon Granger proclaiming

the freedom for enslaved people

in Texas on June 19, 1865."

Wikipedia

Texas having been much in 

the news of late, it's nice to be

reminded of this positive note.

All throughout history, peoples

other, have been mistreated,

denigrated, maligned. When

and where does it stop?

Methinks today is a good day

for self-commitment. It starts

here, with moi. I want to stand

and be counted for equality,

the loving, decent treatment of

all.

As we each stand for what is

right, those wondrous concentric

circles radiate out, overlap, and

bring courage.

Let's do this!

06/18/2023

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour

as thyself." Matthew 22:39

I sooooo love our neighbors!

There are days I feel like the

luckiest gal in the world. 

We hang with our neighbors

who only live a quarter of an

hour away. Over the years,

we've become good buds. I

call my friend, my d) all of 

the above.

She kindly introduced me to

another friend who lives a

half an hour away. Such fun!

And now, one of my fave

students and fam have moved

there as well.

I remember when we moved

here . . . we felt rather alone.

Not lonely, as we're good 

company for each other, but

still, alone.

I revel in my home, my family

and friends . . . both old and

new. Life is good and as warm

days approach, I'm good too.

06/17/2023

Today, I honor my closest 

friends . . . the ones I can be 

absolutely candid with! Never 

knew this could happen!

I love seeing my fave ole gal 

friends! Naught like it; make 

no mistake! So look forward 

to this happening when it can.

Whereas I used to be able to 

spend hours with them, I find 

that now I become quite tired 

or even exhausted at some 

point nearing the end of our

time spent together. 

There are a couple that I feel 

utterly comfortable saying, 

"I'm tired, I need to rest." I 

know there are precious few 

to whom you can say, "Please 

leave, I need to lay down now."

My heart breaks that I have

grown so old that this needs 

to happen. On the other hand, 

I glory in the friends with 

whom I can be so straight.

I repeat, I glory in friends 

such as these . . .

06/16/2023

ex.ple.tive

noun

an oath or swear word.

"The benefits of being a mature,

well-educated woman is that you

are not afraid of expletives. And,

you have no fear to put a fool in

his place. That's the power of

language and experience. You 

can learn a lot from Shakespeare."

~Judi Dench

I'm not at all into television, but

still enjoy some of my mysteries

on DVDs. I prefer English most

of all, although the US has come

up with some pretty good ones.

One of my fave English actresses

is Judi Dench. She is so real. I get

such a kick out of her missives.

She tells it like it is and even 

refuses surgery of any kind as she

ages.

Confession; alas, I find my own

vocab includes the odd expletive.

Praise the language gods, I only 

let one slip in 40 years of teaching. 

You could have heard a pin drop. 

I immediately asked one of the 

students to take me to the principal.

He just laughed and said, "You're

safe with us, miss."

My dad used to say you could be

cursing when you simply said, 

"Oh dear!" Something to do with

your anger, tone of voice, intention.

I don't like swearing when it's 

used in anger! I'm fond of saying

things like, "This marg is f---ing

fabulous." or "You look f---ing

amazing in that dress.

There's another verbiage misuse,

perhaps even worse than cursing,

teens using like every two or three 

words. "I'm like over it. I'm like 

tired of it. I'm like hating it." 

We all have our own lingo, likes

and dislikes therein . . . so be it!

06/15/2023

"If you are more fortunate than

others, it is better to build a

longer table than a taller fence."

~Tamlyn Tomita

Ran into this bit of wisdom this

early morn. Alas, per often, the

author was not honored . . . 

one of my pet peeves.

I love the simple beauty of the

quote, its wisdom, its kindness.

Sorrowfully, we live in a world

today where we are fearful of

strangers, reluctant to engage.

I get this; I live in these current 

times as well. So, I choose to

take the quote metaphorically.

Naught wrong with doing what

you can do . . . as long as you

do something.

Smile at shoppers as you walk

down the aisle. Get something

off the top shelf for that short

little old lady. Let another car

into the line of traffic. Wave 

in thanks to the driver that lets 

you in.

A longer table might just mean

being kind in a rather difficult 

world.

06/14/2023

"You'll heal. It just takes time."

(Quotes 'nd Notes)

When is this magic event finally 

supposed to occur?! I despair!

I'm nigh onto a hundred years 

old, work hard dealing with my 

negative aspects and still, there 

are issues! 

I'm going to make an effort to

switch sides here. Instead of 

nigh onto killing myself for 

personal growth, methinks seek-

ing self-acceptance just might 

be a more positive approach.

Thinking out loud here . . .

'tis time for a little inventory.

Does it really matter if I have 

three brews rather than one? 

Three slices of pizza instead 

of two? Weighing 180 whilst 

longing for 160?

I'm getting this feeling that 

continuously looking for the

perfect is not only just plain

wrong, it's a tad insane! 

What gives?!

God only knows how much

time I have left. Going to make

a promise to myself to LIVE!!!

Forget all this perfectionistic

bent that gets in my way!

Grrrrrrrrrrrr  ~!@#$%^&*()_+

06/13/2023

Just a few years ago today . . .

 . . . my lovely x-wife Mary, 

brought our sweet Katie into 

this world. What a gift she 

has been to one and all.

Phenomenally gorgeous, both

inside and out, she has brought

joy to so many. It might just be

my imagination, but nothing

ever seems to dampen her spirits.

She shares with us, a good man

and two little darlings. Methinks

life doesn't get any better than

that!

The thing that's most impressed

me about her is how she has

stepped up to the plate for her

dad now that he needs her. This

young woman is one hell of a

daughter, sister, wife, mother.

Wow! Just WOW!!!

Happiest of all happies Sweet

Katie . . . Pray Remember, 

it was my mom who always 

called you Sweet Katie. Bet she's 

having a look-see in on you today!

Love you ever so much . . . 

s-mom ld

06/12/2023

"Change is scary, but so is staying

the same." ~Leo

Been reading all about the subject

of change. I know from personal

experience that change is difficult.

Still, it interests me immensely. 

I also get that it is necessary.

Today, our society embraces a 

philosophy centered on the self. 

Perhaps this is necessary in 

order to promote change within.

Some people have that special 

gift of self-acceptance. Others

are enthralled with the idea of

personal growth and change.

Certainly, personalities exist

on different levels, perhaps have 

no particular ideas regarding 

change. I find no criticism in 

either approach . . . 

 . . . but, let's do take a look at 

change . . .

I believe change indicates taking

a long, hard look at the self. Not

looking at the need for perfection

here. Looking instead at personal

growth.

For me,  I'm interested in being 

straight with my lover, family and 

friends. I don't wish to sell myself 

short. It matters for those who love

me, "What you see is what you get."

Change, personal growth, implies

certain things for me. What I have

for breakfast, like ice cream in bed,

doesn't matter. 

But, when I give someone my word, 

that needs to be my bond. Dress like 

the eccentric I am, but when I commit 

to an endeavor, follow thru is required.

That phrase, "I'll be there for you." is

a sacred promise, a word that should

never be broken.

I pray that be moi, ever and always . . .

06/11/2023 - Día del Niño

Día del Niño is a commemorative

date celebrated annually in honor

of children. In 1925, International

Children's Day was first proclaimed

in Geneva during World Conference

on Child Welfare. Wikipedia

One of the things I loved during 

my 20 year sojourn in Old Mexico, 

was Día del Niño. Although it is 

an international holiday, it is truly

celebrated in glorious spirit there.

One of the things I love about this

holiday is it serves as a reminder.

Methinks we don't often ponder our

own childhoods, recall those special

memories and glory in them, if you

will.

Today gives us marv opportunities

to enthrall our children with tales 

told out of school, hold close those 

special remembrances, simply to

celebrate childhood.

Let's do today right! Dig out those

stories. Tell them! Fab chance to

share with our kids and theirs . . .

 . . . You might ever recall that you

were a kiddo once!

Feliz Día del Niño!!!

06/10/2023

"When it doesn't feel right, go left."

~Albert Einstein

One of the things I enjoy about 

one of the greatest minds ever, is 

his quick wit and sense of humor!

Having said that, the above quote

is indeed good advice!

In our society today, the intellect

is probably admired above all else.

So. whatever happened to honoring

finely honed intuition as well? 

Perhaps those words,  finely honed,

is where the problem lies. None of

us pay enough attention to using it 

on a regular basis and our intuition

needs to be trained and keen!

The operative word here might be 

balance. Left brain, right brain . . . 

intellect, intuition. As a somewhat

unbalanced woman myself, I can

appreciate the importance of

Libra balance.

Rest, play, work. Experience, study,

sharing. Reading, writing, teaching.

'Tis all a part of seeking balance. 

This would include equalizing those

two words, intellect and intuition.

Pure magic!

Methinks 'tis well worth any effort!

06/09/2023

"Do what is healing for your spirit.

And, without effort you will bring

the whole world healing in return."

~Alan Cohen

Interesting how we find those bits

and pieces of magic that heals our 

souls. The birth of a great grandson. 

An early morn sunrise, an amazing

sunset. Unexpected guests, a friend's

letter.

If you think of it . . . one could go

on and on. Magic and blessings

are everywhere you look. They 

come in everyday disguises. Part

of our everyday living, so oft times,

we don't give them much thought.

Giving it some thought here, might

be that training ourselves to be more

observant, as well as grateful, might

be the answer.

Today may have only just begun.

Having said that, I am seeing the 

magic and the healing that it brings.

Breakfast in bed, a fave show, my

guy next to me and a beautiful day.

So, in friendly retaliation, I'm going

to write letters and send cards today.

Maybe this will bring a bit of healing

to someone . . .

06/08/2023

"Sometimes the greatest adventure

is simply a conversation." 

Via.Believer

This is one of my fave things in 

my entire lifetime! Still, I would 

have to admit that as I've become 

something of an elder I appreciate 

and enjoy special conversations 

above and beyond many other 

things.

It's ever so interesting to find out, 

to hear what others feel and have 

to say. We all come from different

walks of life, experienced different

things. And, this is what gives us

each a different perspective, more

stories to tell.

How I love these stories! Telling 

them, hearing them! I believe 

storytelling, conversations, are

the foundation of society.

Methinks we all need to commit 

to conversing, to telling tales out 

of school. 

Let's talk . . .

06/07/2023

"May I live this day

Compassionate of heart,

Clear in word,

Gracious in awareness,

Courageous in thought,

Generous in love."

~John O'Donohue

This is truly who I wish 

to be when I grow up!

John O'Donohue was an 

Irish poet, author, priest, 

and Hegelian philosopher. 

He was a native Irish 

speaker, and as an author, 

he is best known for 

popularising Celtic 

spirituality. 1956 - 2008 

Wikipedia

06/06/2023

"Rest, nature, books, music,

such is my idea of happiness."

~Leo Tolstoy

I'd add in tad of red, otherwise

methinks Tolstoy had the right

recipe.

Patently, the world in its entirety 

seeks happiness in one way or

another. Mere survival may keep

that infamous h-word at bay for

some. For others, they hold the 

key in their hands and don't even

realize it.

I'm coming to the conclusion

that happiness lies in contentment,

the satisfaction of a job well done,

the enjoyment of small details.

Our literary greats have written

re the subject ad nauseam  . . . 

We hear the words, we get what

they mean, we can even repeat

them.

But . . . do we really? It's almost

as if we're listening, repeating, 

but not internalizing. Can't help

but wonder if this is what aging

is all about. Finally, finally, we

get it . . . 

 . . . but how to share it?!

 - - -

Count Lev Tolstoy was a Russian

writer who is regarded as one of

the greatest authors of all time. 

He received nominations for the 

Nobel Literature Prize 1902 - 1906

and for the Nobel Peace Prize 1901,

1902, 1909. 1828 - 1910. Wikipedia

06/05/2023

"Monday morning coming down."

~Kris Kristofferson

I've ever and always thought Kris

meant Monday instead of Sunday!

I may be retired, but Monday is 

still that catch up, catch all day . . .

Another thing, I find I'm always

hung over on Mondays and it has

nought at all to do with alcohol.

Everything seems to be weekend

pending . . . dishes, food, sheets, 

curtains, you name it! Methinks

there are plenty of good reasons 

why Monday is not the favest day 

of the week!

Sooooo . . . I must be excused.

That weekend accumulation of

all things despised awaits. Let's

see, what shall I do first? Dishes

maybe? Hang the curtains?

Nah . . . I'm going back to bed!

06/04/2023

"The day I decided that my life

was magical, there was suddenly

magic all around me. 

~Marabeth Quin

Death, sorrow, illness, hatred

abound . . . so why is it that we

don't immediately recognize

the lovely, beautiful, amazing

when gifted our way?!

I witnessed a child picking up

something dropped in Safeway,

running up the isle to hand it to

an elderly man.

A tad humorous, but I get a kick

out of drivers flashing lights to

warn of a policeman clocking

speed.

My guy always asks, when going

down the stairs, "Can I get you

anything?"

Kindness, decency, beauty, magic,

if you will, also abound . . . let's

lift our eyes, alter our focus, and

see that magic gifted us!

It's here! Magic is right here! Let's

enjoy it and contribute to it!

06/03/02023

"What a year this week has been." 

Soul Vibes

Indeed there are days, weeks,

months, years, just so! It's not

that they're necessarily bad, just

intense. I'm coming to understand

not packing the jar too full, makes

for a better salsa!

I'm trying to learn . . . promise, 

cross my heart! Seems to me, not

packing too much into any given

day might be the way to go.

Methinks serenity, peace, calm 

and quiet, may be that for which 

my heart yearns. We all need to 

slow down. Perhaps, a lesson I've

been loathe to learn!

Funny how we all keep learning,

even in our dotage . . .

 . . . can't help but wonder if that

applies to the likes of moi!

06/02/2023

"You need chaos in your soul

to give birth to a dancing star."

~Friedrich Nietzsche

Ever and always, I have been

a bit chaotic. Okay, more than

a bit! Sooooo did NOT feel 

good about it, but Nietzsche

helped me accept this about 

myself.

Knowing Nietzsche, I never 

expected him to have written

these sweet, simple lines. Still,

methinks I should repeat them

to myself each and every morn.

Chaos, here I come! Nietzsche

has made me feel alright about

it and it tends to lighten the 

mood.

 - - -

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

was a German philosopher, 

prose poet, cultural critic,

philologist, and composer

whose work has exerted a

profound influence on

contemporary philosophy. 

1844 -1900 Wikipedia

06/01/2023

So love me the arrival of 

the first day of anything . . . 

but  the first day of June is 

the bestest!!!

To moi, it says, "Colorado 

may finally get a tad of 

Spring after all." Although 

Dara Bitler says in one of 

her articles, "Welcome to 

June, where it snows in 

Colorado." It did rain through

out the night last night, and 

I'll admit, moisture is always 

welcome.

It has been pointed out that 

we talk about the weather 

when we have nothing else 

to say, Rather heartbreaking, 

isn't it . . .

p.s. For those of you following

those crazy ld follies, I may just

have my first marg today after 

my usual 30-day May fast . . . 

or maybe tomorrow.