Mid-Week Something...
I watched my young princes board the bus this morning. Nothing out of the ordinary in that, but the frenzy of excitement I could see through the fogged up windows was new. The little bodies that filled the seats in the front watched their boarding eagerly. Who was boarding the bus next, and how would they entertain us, what sort of excitable magic do these guys have up their sleeves?
Each boy carried an extra bag filled with the costumes they would use to transform themselves into something new, someone different, and if their excited energy was an indicator, something much cooler than they are every day.
As they took the steps to their seats the kids all jumped out of their seats and leaned forward in anticipation. Again, not their usual daily welcome of indifferent seat-dwellers. For the kids, today is a day to escape the mundane. It got me thinking.
I can have pajama day, hat day, backwards, inside out, beach day, green-yellow-or red day, whenever I want.
Here's what I'm going to do to break up my everyday mundane and magically transform myself into something new!
I'm going to go get dressed up now too! It will not be out of the ordinary, just my running clothes. But know as I do, I'll be imagining they have transformed me into something really special. I'll be able to run faster, break records, earn medals. And when I get home and step up to the podium (which will be my sink and a large glass of lemon water) I'll look out at the crowds (my kitchen window) and take a bow and receive humbly the accolades!
I can be whoever I want at anytime.....I only need to believe I can!
There's definitely something magical in the believing!
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Monday, 29 October 2012
Jackson 5 ABC AC3 Official Video HQ
Monday Monday Monday Monday Monday
I need a jump-start this morning. I hope this does the trick, because the coffee sure didn't!
If you're feeling like me, pick up your feet, try out a little shuffle and shake it!
I dare you to sit glued to your seat as you pipe this through your speakers......And if somehow you find yourself smiling, singing along, snapping, tapping, or testing out a snazzy spin, don't blame me! Ha...enjoy!
Give Monday a whirl, and have a great day!
I need a jump-start this morning. I hope this does the trick, because the coffee sure didn't!
If you're feeling like me, pick up your feet, try out a little shuffle and shake it!
I dare you to sit glued to your seat as you pipe this through your speakers......And if somehow you find yourself smiling, singing along, snapping, tapping, or testing out a snazzy spin, don't blame me! Ha...enjoy!
Give Monday a whirl, and have a great day!
Friday, 26 October 2012
Here's What I Know
It's that time of year again. The time when everyone and their dog (literally), dress up to have their holiday picture snapped, retouched, and arranged to set their best face forward.
We here in our home have never quite got it together to send out that glossy sheet. In fact in the fourteen years of wedded bliss and otherwise, we have only had a family picture done once, and even then, though intentions were good, the picture was never sent or blown up to be displayed proudly on our wall.
I am great at a lot of things, but when it comes to that sort of thing I am not, so don't wait for that envelope to change hands, or for our best face forward to arrive in the mail.
Everywhere I've gone this week, Christmas seems to be the topic of conversation. It's crazy, if I step out onto my front entrance and look left, I can even see a home that is lit for the festivities. Its attempt is sketchy at best, but lit nonetheless-it's a little much.
Now let me premise that I love the holidays, but for now, it is too soon to take seriously, and to be honest, if I let my mind drift that far into the future, I may just explode.
Life is just too busy to be preoccupied that far down the line.
Here's my case and point......
I went out with my oldest and dearest friend last night. I love her, I cherish our friendship, and because she likely knows me better than anyone else on the planet, she is able to nurture my spirit like no other living being. I hope I am in some small way also able to refresh and encourage her. (Cheers, girl, you have my heart!)
Anyway, we sandwiched the visit in, like a timed race, and I shake my head at this and am embarrassed to admit that, though she only lives 5 miles door to door, we haven't so much as spoken since the start of July.
That is just Insane to me. It also reminds me I need to take better care of the spots in my life that are important to me.
And truthfully, like the family picture, I have lofty intentions, somewhere in the shuffle of busyness, those necessary and oh so important spots get lost.
They get lost until I feel the explosion on the horizon.
When the explosion has passed, and I am reminded of how it was of my own making, how I fed the flame until I was no longer able to contain it, I shake my head and try to sit and reevaluate.
Evaluating yourself is hard. And I don't know about you, but I do know that I am my own harshest critic.
Here's what I know....
1~grace is offered to all, we need only accept it and allow it to fill our lives
2~the best friends are those who are always there, but not necessarily always seen
3~when we rush and flit chaotically from one thing to the next, the nuggets of importance are lost in the shuffle
4~saying no isn't a bad thing
5~you only get once chance to do many things, so do them justice by doing well
6~you have to laugh and laugh often to get through the worst
7~forgiving yourself can be hard, letting go harder, and learning to move on unencumbered often painful...there's that grace thing!
8~there isn't enough time. But what you do with the time is telling
9~when we take things or people for granted, are we worthy of that gift?
10~everyone's dream is important
It may be a lot for a Friday and even more to start the weekend off. So why not start here.....
What are your dreams, and what are you doing to achieve them?
Happy Friday!
It's that time of year again. The time when everyone and their dog (literally), dress up to have their holiday picture snapped, retouched, and arranged to set their best face forward.
We here in our home have never quite got it together to send out that glossy sheet. In fact in the fourteen years of wedded bliss and otherwise, we have only had a family picture done once, and even then, though intentions were good, the picture was never sent or blown up to be displayed proudly on our wall.
I am great at a lot of things, but when it comes to that sort of thing I am not, so don't wait for that envelope to change hands, or for our best face forward to arrive in the mail.
Everywhere I've gone this week, Christmas seems to be the topic of conversation. It's crazy, if I step out onto my front entrance and look left, I can even see a home that is lit for the festivities. Its attempt is sketchy at best, but lit nonetheless-it's a little much.
Now let me premise that I love the holidays, but for now, it is too soon to take seriously, and to be honest, if I let my mind drift that far into the future, I may just explode.
Life is just too busy to be preoccupied that far down the line.
Here's my case and point......
I went out with my oldest and dearest friend last night. I love her, I cherish our friendship, and because she likely knows me better than anyone else on the planet, she is able to nurture my spirit like no other living being. I hope I am in some small way also able to refresh and encourage her. (Cheers, girl, you have my heart!)
Anyway, we sandwiched the visit in, like a timed race, and I shake my head at this and am embarrassed to admit that, though she only lives 5 miles door to door, we haven't so much as spoken since the start of July.
That is just Insane to me. It also reminds me I need to take better care of the spots in my life that are important to me.
And truthfully, like the family picture, I have lofty intentions, somewhere in the shuffle of busyness, those necessary and oh so important spots get lost.
They get lost until I feel the explosion on the horizon.
When the explosion has passed, and I am reminded of how it was of my own making, how I fed the flame until I was no longer able to contain it, I shake my head and try to sit and reevaluate.
Evaluating yourself is hard. And I don't know about you, but I do know that I am my own harshest critic.
Here's what I know....
1~grace is offered to all, we need only accept it and allow it to fill our lives
2~the best friends are those who are always there, but not necessarily always seen
3~when we rush and flit chaotically from one thing to the next, the nuggets of importance are lost in the shuffle
4~saying no isn't a bad thing
5~you only get once chance to do many things, so do them justice by doing well
6~you have to laugh and laugh often to get through the worst
7~forgiving yourself can be hard, letting go harder, and learning to move on unencumbered often painful...there's that grace thing!
8~there isn't enough time. But what you do with the time is telling
9~when we take things or people for granted, are we worthy of that gift?
10~everyone's dream is important
It may be a lot for a Friday and even more to start the weekend off. So why not start here.....
What are your dreams, and what are you doing to achieve them?
Happy Friday!
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Frente' Bizarre Love Triangle ln
Good Morning! And hello, beautiful, happy people!
I have never grown tired of this song, or this album for that matter. Frente was a wonderful escape for me in my youth, and it still does same thing to me today. I discovered it when I was 16 or 17, so many, many years ago, and it still makes me smile and feel that undeniable flare of innocent youth!
Does that mean I haven't changed all that much, or does it mean I'm clinging desperately to a few sprinklings of delight only the past can bring? Whatever the case, I'll fly the flag because it still warms my heart!
I love this song (in most of its versions), I love her sweet voice, and I love that I remember what I felt like in those long gone awkward days of discovery!
A song can take you back. It can make a new memory, or it can be an easy way to eat up a few minutes of your life!
What will it be for you today?
I have never grown tired of this song, or this album for that matter. Frente was a wonderful escape for me in my youth, and it still does same thing to me today. I discovered it when I was 16 or 17, so many, many years ago, and it still makes me smile and feel that undeniable flare of innocent youth!
Does that mean I haven't changed all that much, or does it mean I'm clinging desperately to a few sprinklings of delight only the past can bring? Whatever the case, I'll fly the flag because it still warms my heart!
I love this song (in most of its versions), I love her sweet voice, and I love that I remember what I felt like in those long gone awkward days of discovery!
A song can take you back. It can make a new memory, or it can be an easy way to eat up a few minutes of your life!
What will it be for you today?
Monday, 22 October 2012
Memories for a Monday
My favorite time of the day to run is at night, more specifically the late evening when the sky has already darkened. There are several reasons. The first is, I think my body and mind are too tired to fight each other and they harmoniously sync themselves into the rhythm of my feet.
The second is, it's more peaceful. I will elaborate on this one slightly. Since I was a young girl I have always loved the night sky. I can look up and see its endless expanse and in a significant way I understand my place in creation and I feel a reciprocal communion in that. I love the air at night; it smells and tastes different, and for some odd reason I can breathe much easier. My mind empties more fully, and new ideas, thoughts, and solutions pour in.
I don't often have the chance to run at night. My schedule prefers when I sneak it in in the morning, but the funny thing is I don't love to run in the morning. But I do love to run in the evening.
I argued back and forth with myself because it had been a very busy day. I'm tired-but you should still get out there. I don't really feel like it-but you will once you get dressed. My knee hurts-SO...it's still going to hurt after! Ha!
It was a game, and in the end my running shoes managed to be laced to my feet, my ugly sweats protected me from the chill, and I was layered up and wired up to go!
It was great, it always is. And I never regret going, that is also something I told myself before I hit the pavement.
As I ran, I stumbled across a lovely picture I'd like to share!
I chose to meander last night. I followed a path where the slope favored my messed up knee, and along the way I passed a school yard. It was the type of school yard where children run, climb, and squeal with delight in the sunlight hours.
But this night, there were no delighted children, and the single light that lit the area revealed peaceful tranquility. The slide was deserted, the climbing wall stood tall and empty, and the swaying bridge was still.
The swings, however, were occupied.
Two backsides faced me. A girl with a hat that covered long hair that fell down her back sat on the left. A boy, also in a cap, wearing shorts in spite of the chilled air was next to her. Their gangly youthful legs pushed them subtly as they hovered above the cool damp pea gravel, but their hands connected them and moved them together back and forth and side to side in unison. They were looking at each other. I imagined they were sharing a smile, that perfect sort of smile the moment would have required.
My heart sighed and I outwardly smiled at the sight. I know I am hopeless, but through my eyes, this picture was so filled with hope!
My mind began to wander. Do I remember those days of infatuation, when sitting on swings in the early night hours were vital to my developing friendship, crush, or relationship?
The simple, sweet moments when the silence of the night became a blanket that wrapped you and your partner into your own world. The time when words mean more, when emotions are ripe, when courage is emboldened.
Swinging in your own world. Walking slowly beneath the gentle glow of a street lamp. Speaking urgently in hushed voices. Staring up at the stars and imagining where life will lead.
Moments in youth that are so sweet, so simple and so free.
I can pull a lot from a simple picture, and it did dominate my mind for the last half of my run. My thoughts grew branches that took me back to my past and pushed me into the future.
Our days spin forward each day. Day moves into night, and night back into day. It doesn't stop, that one is sure. But those two kids had the right idea, and I was blessed to have stumbled across them.
It doesn't take a lot to make a memory. One part quiet, two parts intention, two sets of legs to carry you, one place to stop and embrace the time, one hand to share with a willing partner, two sets of eyes to see each other, to really SEE each other and confirm there is no other place you'd rather be.
A little effort equals priceless moments that are held on to forever!
Happy Monday!
My favorite time of the day to run is at night, more specifically the late evening when the sky has already darkened. There are several reasons. The first is, I think my body and mind are too tired to fight each other and they harmoniously sync themselves into the rhythm of my feet.
The second is, it's more peaceful. I will elaborate on this one slightly. Since I was a young girl I have always loved the night sky. I can look up and see its endless expanse and in a significant way I understand my place in creation and I feel a reciprocal communion in that. I love the air at night; it smells and tastes different, and for some odd reason I can breathe much easier. My mind empties more fully, and new ideas, thoughts, and solutions pour in.
I don't often have the chance to run at night. My schedule prefers when I sneak it in in the morning, but the funny thing is I don't love to run in the morning. But I do love to run in the evening.
I argued back and forth with myself because it had been a very busy day. I'm tired-but you should still get out there. I don't really feel like it-but you will once you get dressed. My knee hurts-SO...it's still going to hurt after! Ha!
It was a game, and in the end my running shoes managed to be laced to my feet, my ugly sweats protected me from the chill, and I was layered up and wired up to go!
It was great, it always is. And I never regret going, that is also something I told myself before I hit the pavement.
As I ran, I stumbled across a lovely picture I'd like to share!
I chose to meander last night. I followed a path where the slope favored my messed up knee, and along the way I passed a school yard. It was the type of school yard where children run, climb, and squeal with delight in the sunlight hours.
But this night, there were no delighted children, and the single light that lit the area revealed peaceful tranquility. The slide was deserted, the climbing wall stood tall and empty, and the swaying bridge was still.
The swings, however, were occupied.
Two backsides faced me. A girl with a hat that covered long hair that fell down her back sat on the left. A boy, also in a cap, wearing shorts in spite of the chilled air was next to her. Their gangly youthful legs pushed them subtly as they hovered above the cool damp pea gravel, but their hands connected them and moved them together back and forth and side to side in unison. They were looking at each other. I imagined they were sharing a smile, that perfect sort of smile the moment would have required.
My heart sighed and I outwardly smiled at the sight. I know I am hopeless, but through my eyes, this picture was so filled with hope!
My mind began to wander. Do I remember those days of infatuation, when sitting on swings in the early night hours were vital to my developing friendship, crush, or relationship?
The simple, sweet moments when the silence of the night became a blanket that wrapped you and your partner into your own world. The time when words mean more, when emotions are ripe, when courage is emboldened.
Swinging in your own world. Walking slowly beneath the gentle glow of a street lamp. Speaking urgently in hushed voices. Staring up at the stars and imagining where life will lead.
Moments in youth that are so sweet, so simple and so free.
I can pull a lot from a simple picture, and it did dominate my mind for the last half of my run. My thoughts grew branches that took me back to my past and pushed me into the future.
Our days spin forward each day. Day moves into night, and night back into day. It doesn't stop, that one is sure. But those two kids had the right idea, and I was blessed to have stumbled across them.
It doesn't take a lot to make a memory. One part quiet, two parts intention, two sets of legs to carry you, one place to stop and embrace the time, one hand to share with a willing partner, two sets of eyes to see each other, to really SEE each other and confirm there is no other place you'd rather be.
A little effort equals priceless moments that are held on to forever!
Happy Monday!
Tuesday, 16 October 2012
Jake Bugg - Lightning Bolt - Jools Holland Live 2012
WhooHoo!
New music! Always a great way to start the day! This one isn't so new anymore, but today it is available in Canada! It's good listening.....check it!
New music! Always a great way to start the day! This one isn't so new anymore, but today it is available in Canada! It's good listening.....check it!
Monday, 15 October 2012
It's a New week! Where will it lead us?
This Weekend's Top Ten
1~sushi and a glass of red wine (maybe an interesting combo, but it's my fav)
2~cheesy dance movies. I will never grow out of them!
3~the smell of arena, and a heap of sweaty equipment....just kidding, that's disgusting!
4~a driving date with my sweetheart, and modern medical technology
5~visits with an incredible sister
6~tidying the yard for winter = teamwork!
7~really BIG dreams
8~window shopping, grand inspiration, and a whole lot to think about
9~crackling fires, the drone of the lawnmower, giggling boys, smashed snowmen, and a half pulled apart trampoline
10~the opportunity to help where it's needed
I still feel like I'm flying high from last week! I think it's a good sign. Life was too busy there for a while, and I'll admit I wasn't handling it very well, but I'm feeling back on track.
The busy won't ever change, it's just the way it is, this is nothing new! And though that is the case and each of my top ten was birthed out of the craziness of my schedule, I stopped, enjoyed, and was able to find something to be thankful for!
Life is good.
So Good!
Have a super-great Monday!
This Weekend's Top Ten
1~sushi and a glass of red wine (maybe an interesting combo, but it's my fav)
2~cheesy dance movies. I will never grow out of them!
3~the smell of arena, and a heap of sweaty equipment....just kidding, that's disgusting!
4~a driving date with my sweetheart, and modern medical technology
5~visits with an incredible sister
6~tidying the yard for winter = teamwork!
7~really BIG dreams
8~window shopping, grand inspiration, and a whole lot to think about
9~crackling fires, the drone of the lawnmower, giggling boys, smashed snowmen, and a half pulled apart trampoline
10~the opportunity to help where it's needed
I still feel like I'm flying high from last week! I think it's a good sign. Life was too busy there for a while, and I'll admit I wasn't handling it very well, but I'm feeling back on track.
The busy won't ever change, it's just the way it is, this is nothing new! And though that is the case and each of my top ten was birthed out of the craziness of my schedule, I stopped, enjoyed, and was able to find something to be thankful for!
Life is good.
So Good!
Have a super-great Monday!
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