Gifts

My sweet friend Toni Bernard just sent me the newly published pocket version of her book "How To Be Sick," along with another of her beautiful watercolors.

I think the book is valuable for anyone struggling with any kind of illness or hardship.  This book is specific to illness (usually not diagnosed and/or dismissed by medical professionals) but her book "How to Wake Up" is a guide to living through joy and suffering.  She's been a practicing Buddhist for over 20 years.

I have experienced a number of health challenges in my life, and any one of them could have led me into permanent despair.  Somehow,  I always rise.  Maybe after a long while filled with doubt and self-pity, but I do either recover or learn how to organize my life in order to accommodate my body.

Right now the big challenge is how to adjust to this never ending stay at home situation.  Like you, no doubt, I've experienced every emotion possible.  Some days I just nap and nap and nap.  The waves of dreams wash over me and I give in to them.  Yesterday I emptied the dishwasher and cleaned the very messy kitchen and this was my big victory!

The things that sustain me now are the Colbert Show on CBS - smart, funny, sexy Stephen!  The Sunday Morning show on CBS is one of the very best shows on television, with their mix of news, art, music and interviews with, say, Graham Nash (this weekend) and other notables.  I've also become immersed in The Last Kingdom on Netflix, thanks to this blogger's suggestion.  It's captivated me completely, though it is filled with barbaric gore and epic battle scenes from the ninth century.  It is perfect escapism.

Our area is beginning to loosen restrictions, but I'm waiting to see if the numbers rise again before I abandoned the precautions set up.  I'm comfortable enough at home, though antsy and many times bored.  Oh. So. Bored.  And so very physically tired because I'm too whatever to get much exercise.  Ennui is a good descriptor.

Trying to be gentle with myself. 

How about you?

Old Friends for Almost Sorta Not Really Wordless Wednesday

Cheers!

I can't remember when this was taken, must've been 2012 when Robin and Roger were living in Grass Valley.  For the first time in a few years, we lived close to one another again.  I'd drive up from Sacramento (about a hour away) and enjoy their forest enclave, their easy company, and delicious food they cooked up in their kitchen or the grill.

They are relaxed hosts, which suits be fine.  When Steve and I were newly together, we made the trek to their new home very far north on the California coast.  It was important for me that they meet and it was a great visit and everyone got along well.

I think Robin must have taken both these photos.  What a happy time that was.  Now I stay in touch through emails, phone calls and blogging.  A trip is needed in the next couple of months.  Here I come, kids!

Their friendship has sustained me over many years.  I love them so much.  We "get" each other.

I'd love to hear about the friendship(s) that sustain you, dear Reader.

Monday Musings

He who shall not be named says, "There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news. The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly. That will do much to put out the flame...

5:03 AM - Oct 29, 2018"

 

It occurs to me, and just about every sane person in the world, that the great anger is caused by he, himself, the great stoker of fake stories, lies and conspiracy theories; the bully who denigrates reporters, political opponents and anyone who does not lick his boots.

 

 

 

And the Fox News idiots who help him spread misinformation.  Funny, right?  The only news he doesn't say is fake is actually, in fact, fake.

 

It doesn't get much more surreal than that. 

 

***

In other news, may I just report that this morning I am feeling better than I have in weeks?  Perhaps the new meds are responsible for that.  In any case, it feels grand to feel grand.   I'm going to be spending some time today assembling photo cards that I hope I can sell.  Some of my favorite images, and some very new, as in a week ago.

 

My photographs have been well received at the exhibit we are having at URC, with many people asking about purchasing as well as wanting to buy note cards with the images.  So, I thought I'd throw some together.  Steve's photos have also been well-received, and his theme for the four images, "A Celebration of Two" has caught peoples' imagination as well.  Seems a very good time to highlight the interconnection of human beings, as his work does.  

 

We had a fun group dinner after the reception, and some of us are going to solicit interest in starting a photography club.  It may interest some, so we'll see.  I'm a little on the fence because of the way I work.  I go through very active periods when I'm inspired, but I also take long breaks from making pictures.  I get visually burned out.  While I'm excited at the prospect of a group project, I know I may need to duck in and out.  

 

May you find some light and love this week, dear ones, while this madness burns around us.  Remember to look for the heroes, the helpers, the good ones among us.  They/we are here.

Monday Musings

What a grand holiday season for us.  The last guests have left, and we have a quiet home once again.  We entertained steadily from Christmas eve day until this afternoon.  All welcomed guests, all loved, all seemed to enjoy themselves.

Love, kisses, hugs and laughter all around.  Plus the antics of a 5 year old boy who is a sneaky and cheeky lil' monkey.  He and I had a couple of soaks in the hot tub together, which was quite the challenge because we have had some seriously cold weather.  Once in the tub, of course, all was fine and dandy.  But getting out was agony.  I love him a lot. 

 A couple of days before Christmas, we received this tin of homemade cookies from a friend in France.  We spent time with her husband while in Paris this year, but we have yet to met her.  And yet, she, the most thoughtful one, put together a wonderful package of tea towels, hand painted mugs, treats and these cookies she made herself.

That's a stellar woman right there.

Christmas eve and the first night of Hanukka happened to coincide this year, so we lit the menorah while a friend of ours said prayers.  I haven't done this ritual since my daughter was a toddler and we were living with friends who are Jewish.  My husband has had our menorah all his life, and it is a treasure.  My husband is not observant, and I'm not Jewish, but I always appreciate customs and rituals.

Here's our cheeky monkey writing a thank you note for Santa.  He put it next to the cookies and milk.  We were tracking Santa on the NORAD site and it was pretty exciting.  When the sleigh got to the United States, we hustled him off to bed so Santa wouldn't skip our home.

Christmas is so much fun when you've got believers in your company!

I have skipped some post as of late, as the general tenor of the country has me worn down.  So our wonderful holiday visitors were just what I needed and wanted.   After my nomadic and erratic life fades into my background, I am often aware of how lucky I am to have a home, a life partner, a daughter (and her family) and good friends.  I have everything I could possibly want.  I cling to that these crazy days.

Hope your holidays were filled with love, too.

Monday Musings

I have mused, countless times, on how lucky I am to know such fine people.  It can be someone from childhood, high school, college, employment, mutual friends, and the world of the arts.  When I go to that final adventure, I will go knowing that I have known love with my fellow beings, and that we made this mutual journey a meaningful one with our shared experiences, our sumptuous dinners by candle light, our walkabouts to capture the perfect photograph, our music making around a campfire and earnest hand written letters through the years. 

I have been disappointed by friends as well, of course.  Some calamities are fixable, while others are not worth the time and effort to recover.  I say, "Adieu" and know that while the friendship lasted, it brought me great pleasure.  Some I still agonize over in restless dreaming or 2:30 a.m. awakenings.  Those come with less frequency, and I like to believe that one day the unsettled feelings will fade away completely.

One of the great wonders of being my age is that I am still discovering new friendships, and earnestly cultivating them.  One of these is with our friend Ted Grant, a photojournalist with 60 years professional experience under his belt and many, many awards to show for it.  This past week my husband and I travel to British Columbia to spend a few days with Ted, something we've been planning to do since Ted came to visit us in California a few years ago.  Talk about your salt of the earth fellow who tells it like it is! 

We told stories over glasses of scotch (his is very peaty and thoroughly disgusting) and chocolate covered cherries.  We love to hash out what makes for a good photograph, and what stinks about some modern photography.  We have our opinions.

My husband and Ted have known each other a long time.  They knew each others' wives, they collaborated on photographic projects.  They go way back and I am the newcomer.  Be that as it may, Ted has never made me feel anything but welcomed, loved, and appreciated.  We easily fall into interesting and intimate conversation and I treasure our talks.

This trip, we visited Butchart Gardens to view the fall color.  Imagine, my second fall color trip in two weeks!  This place is out of this world.  Even in the pouring rain, which is what we experienced.  We tried to wait it out over coffee and snacks, but it became apparent we were going to have to suck it up and get out there.  Luckily, our hosts keep a ready supply of clear plastic umbrellas.  Off we went, encountering sullen toddlers, over-tired 8 year-olds, and hordes of Chinese tourists with their cell phone cameras.  Lots of selfies, don't you know?  Selfies with all the grandeur around us?  Really!

We flew home on a 6:00 a.m. flight, which required rising at 3:30 a.m.  We told Ted to please please sleep through it all, but he insisted on sending us off.  That is a true friend.  It was a memorable visit with an honest and true human being.  Our friend.  One of many that I have had the pleasure of knowing in my lifetime.  He gives me hope that life can be long and productive; one can encounter adventure and discoveries at any age.  He accepts invites to speak for various groups and impart his experience and knowledge.  He loves connecting with audiences and individuals.  He has a lot to give to others, and has always mentored young folks.  An exemplary existence. 

So, yeah, his friendship warms my soul.  Aren't I the lucky one?

Wordless Wednesday

Tara Crowley, 2016, All Rights Reserved

TGIF

It is good to be home.

It was good to be away.  It was all so so good.  Except the air travel.  Oh, the hours stuck in a small metal tube! There are parts of my body that I hardly ever gave a thought to that are still aching, days after.  Did you know you have a tail bone?  Well, the vestiges of a tail anyway.  Did you know that 17 hours on a plane makes one acutely aware of this small but important spot on the body?  When I rise - ouch.  When I sit - OUCH.  But enough of that.

It really was a wonderful adventure.  From Paris, to Provence, to Barcelona.  Each had its own treasures.  Le Pick Clops in Paris, around the corner from our apartment, was our morning coffee and croissant place.  The 'kids' who ran it were fun, spoke petite Anglais, were hip and cool.  The sound tracks they played - all American music from the 1950s.  They soon learned that Steve loves his chocolate.  On the first day, our waitress made a special trip to a boulongerie to get pain du chocolate for him.  For the rest of the week, they had it on hand.

It is a neighborhood thing.  All the regulars come by.  They sit at the bar, drink their beverages (sometimes beer for the night workers) and have great gab fests that elicits much laughter.  They are young and old. Elites and street sweepers. 

There are dogs in these places!  YES!  You can bring your beloved animal in with you.  We saw some cuties.

Dogs are everywhere in Paris.  Big and small.  Many, many dachshunds.  Seems to be the dog of choice.  It's great to watch them trot furiously on their stubby legs.  They've got to work to keep up, and there was not a fat dachshund to be found.

Le Pick opened earlier than all the other cafes in our neighborhood.  That's what first got our attention.  But within 2 days we realized that there were just so many things to love about this place.  The people there embodied joie de vivre.  Just watching them at work and at play was instructive.

We found the French people to be friendly and kind.  In Paris.  Steve noticed a remarkable shift in their demeanor towards tourists and travelers.  We can't account for it, but it is welcomed.

The mister and I will be editing images for months to come.  The urban scenes of an ancient, great city.  The pastoral pastels of the southern countryside.  The old city of Barcelona, boasting the oldest Synagogue in all of Europe.

My, it is good to be home.

Monday Musings

I'm lucky.  I have some amazing friends.  Smart people, good people, creative people, artistic people, good cooks & bad cooks, animal lovers and nature enthusiasts.  Teachers, nurses, doctors, musicians, therapists, low tech/high tech types, watchers of birds and watchers of clouds.

As annoying as Facebook can be, the platform has also brought some great folks into my sphere.  Mostly through real-time friends, but some show up on their own and exist only (until I meet them) on the internet.  On Facebook I belong to a cooking group and a couple of photography groups.  I get great ideas from both.  It's fun to share your passion with others.  Before FB (you remember that, don't you?) I met some pretty spectacular people through blogging.  My blogging buddies have been with me through the ups and downs, and it helped me to share my circumstances, no matter what they were.

I have been counting my blessings in these difficult times, and friends are among my greatest blessings.  I have friends that I've known for a very long time, and others (like my Sacramento gang) that welcomed me to my new home 5 years ago and gave me a fun social network to be a part of.  When the news du jour becomes depressing (and when does it not?) I let my peeps remind me that are plenty, plenty I tell you, of great people in this world.

Our newest friend, Andrash, from Kauai.

Make no mistake, I've lost friendships, too.  Misunderstandings, incompatibility, lack of interest or sincerity.  Sometimes I wonder if I should attempt a reconciliation, but when I think back about why we are no longer friends, it usually reassures me to leave things where they are.  It's only my codependent, control freak self calling.  I think I left  her at the bus stop two stops back.  Hopefully I've ditched her for good.

When the world seems so overcome with sadness, it's my friends I turn to.  And I count my husband along with them, of course.  His presence has calmed me and comforted me through many a challenge.  His humor makes me laugh.  Every. Damn. Day.

So, when this ol' world starts getting you down (thank you, Carole King), find some blessings to count.   Hopefully they have names.  And big hearts.  Gutsy out loud laughs.  Kindness.  Brilliance. And shoulders to lean on.

Mon Cher

It's his birthday.  We got a short ride in before it got too blasted hot.  Isn't he handsome?  Oh, la la.

So young at heart, so young a spirit, and I hope to be in half as good of shape when I am his age.  He inspires me.  We were having a bagel at Noah's this morning, talking about the older population in our town.  I just read an article stating that we are a majority now, here.  If you look around, what you see is, by and large, a very fit demographic.  White hair is commonly seen on older bodies that have excellent muscle tone, are on the slender side, and damn if they aren't just HAPPY.  They're also rocking their yoga or bicycle clothes.  It all gives me great hope for a healthy future.  And I want a long one, because I can't get enough of this man.

Passez une merveilleuse journée, mon cher!

Waning Days of Summer

 School started yesterday and the elementary school behind our house was finally populated with playing children.  It was fun to watch them tossing red rubber balls into the sycamore tree just over the fence.  They darted across the grassy playing field where we run our dogs, and it made me think how good it is that we are (all) diligent about picking up our dogs' messes.

Last evening we went to the Farmer's Market. On Wednesday nights through October the market is even more festive with a live band, food booths and wine and beer.  We were lucky to catch a great local band, Yolo Mambo, who played a variety of styles from Celtic to Brazilian to jazz. 

Monsieur took many photos of the band, and chatted them up, as is his way.  He bought a couple of CDs and I had to laugh --  if you only knew how many moving boxes of CDs he gave away and sold over the last few months.  This man has an iTunes library of over 40,000 songs, I kid you not.

I think he likes music.

I enjoyed the children at Central Park very much and of course wished my grandson were there.  They loved the music, and generally running around with their abundant kid energy.

The girl in the purple skirt was twirling and twirling - this is just one shot.  She was ecstatic.

Davis is quite the family oriented town.  This event had pony rides, jumping tents, all kinds of activities for the kiddies.  There were many young families, all fresh and new with their babies, their swollen bellies, their sturdy toddlers and effervescent pre-schoolers.

People were in the mood for good food, music and meeting up with friends.  We ran into Joe and Linda from the dog park.  Looking all cleaned up.

A satisfying day to be sure.  Children, music, food, fruit so ripe it scents the air under the market tent.  Spicy chicken curry and paneer over rice and avocado/coconut ice cream for dessert.

Sigh.

The Last Days of Summer Before the First Frost           By Tim Bowling

 

Here at the wolf’s throat, at the egress of the howl,

all along the avenue of deer-blink and salmon-kick

where the spider lets its microphone down

into the cave of the blackberry bush—earth echo,

absence of the human voice—wait here

with a bee on your wrist and a fly on your cheek,

the tiny sun and tiny eclipse.

It is time to be grateful for the breath

of what you could crush without thought,

a moth, a child’s love, your own life.

There might never be another chance.

How did you find me, the astonished mother says

to her four-year-old boy who’d disappeared

in the crowds at the music festival.

I followed my heart, he shrugs,

so matter-of-fact you might not see

behind his words

(o hover and feed, but not too long)

the bee trails turning to ice as they’re flown.

TGIF Independence Day

No photos because I was too busy cooking and then eating, but I made a feast worthy of our nation's 238th birthday: BBQ pork sliders on homemade mini buns, with blue cheese and coleslaw on top, corn on the cob , and for dessert, peach pie with vanilla ice cream. Must confess, I didn't make the ice cream.  Next year.

We spent a quiet day, S sorting out the garage and me running over to my place to take care of plant watering and picking up the kitchen aid mixer to make the slider buns. Some time at the park letting the beasts run around in 93 degree weather. I felt like I was gonna wilt -- simply fade away.

What with all our house activity of buying and selling, I must admit I'm pooped. I turned down a perfectly lovely invite to a pool party because I am simply bushed. I look forward to the aftermath of all our efforts so I may settle into the regular rhythm of life. Not complaining, mind you. Everyone should have such travails: finding a great house to move to with my soon to be husband.  Who is a doll. Whom I love cooking for. I am a thoroughly modern queer feminist and, so, while typing the previous sentence I did a double take. And then said, "Hell yeah."

Little Stars and Stripes line the suburban lawns of this neighborhood. Bank tellers and store clerks have been cheerfully inquiring as to our 'holiday' plans and we pretty much stared blankly at them. What holiday? Oh. Yeah.

My take-away from this day is: Independence and Freedom. To live the life I see fit. To watch the World Cup and feast on sliders. Life is good.

Staying Balanced

My guy and I are preparing his house for sale. Yes. Biggggg News (more later). The Yoga cd is one I claimed for myself while packing many to be donated to the local public radio station. The music is just what I need now to ground myself and keep my head from spinning.

People may say we're crazy, selling a perfectly delightful home, but we plan on marrying and want to have a house that is ours together, in a smaller town close to where we are now. It's exciting, and it's exhausting. But mostly it is exciting.

Me, the one who swore she'd never marry again. Yes, me. Never say "never." It's bound to propel you in the direction you say you don't want to go. But I do want to go. This man is a gift from heaven, I tell you. After 25 years of being with women partners (and a wife), it was a surprise to find myself so attracted to this fellow. But there you go. Never say "never." Life offers up such surprises and new directions. Just when you take your eye off the game, a foul ball zips past your head. Gawd. A baseball metaphor.

Speaking of which, we are going to be at a nationally televised River Cats game on Thursday (CBS at 7:05 Pacific). They're playing Las Vegas (hear me, Linda Lou?) and we'll be right behind the RC dugout. Catch us if you can!

Nothing like baseball to keep me balanced. Oh, that and BBQ before the game.

TGIF

Perhaps you have experienced this video. I love love love it. Don't we all deserve to feel this way? Here's something I read recently about happiness (nine ways to achieve it): 1. Start each day with expectation. If there's any big truth about life, it's that it usually lives up to (or down to) your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought: "something wonderful is going to happen today." Guess what? You're probably right. 2. Take time to plan and prioritize. The most common source of stress is the perception that you've got too much work to do. Rather than obsess about it, pick one thing that, if you get it done today, will move you closer to your highest goal and purpose in life. Then do that first. 3. Give a gift to everyone you meet. I'm not talking about a formal, wrapped-up present. Your gift can be your smile, a word of thanks or encouragement, a gesture of politeness, even a friendly nod. And never pass beggars without leaving them something. Peace of mind is worth the spare change. 4. Deflect partisan conversations. Arguments about politics and religion never have a "right" answer but they definitely get people all riled up over things they can't control. When such topics surface, bow out by saying something like: "Thinking about that stuff makes my head hurt." 5. Assume people have good intentions. Since you can't read minds, you don't really know the "why" behind the "what" that people do. Imputing evil motives to other people's weird behaviors adds extra misery to life, while assuming good intentions leaves you open to reconciliation. 6. Eat high quality food slowly. Sometimes we can't avoid scarfing something quick to keep us up and running. Even so, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an imported chocolate. Focus on it; taste it; savor it. 7. Let go of your results. The big enemy of happiness is worry, which comes from focusing on events that are outside your control. Once you've taken action, there's usually nothing more you can do. Focus on the job at hand rather than some weird fantasy of what might happen. 8. Turn off "background" TV. Many households leave their TVs on as "background noise" while they're doing other things. The entire point of broadcast TV is to make you dissatisfied with your life so that you'll buy more stuff. Why subliminally program yourself to be a mindless consumer? 9. End each day with gratitude. Just before you go to bed, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened. It might be something as small as a making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal. Whatever it is, be grateful for that day because it will never come again. I also read recently about taking a 24 hour break from the connected world of electronics: computers, t.v., (phone?) starting at sundown on Friday and going until sundown Saturday. I'm going to try that, though probably not this week, as I am on-call for the SPCA and need to make phone calls this evening. But I can, and will, unplug from everything else. Of course, this is an idea born directly from the practice of Shabbat. Rest, contemplation, refraining from work. No need to go to a fancy spa or religious retreat, just do it where you are, in your life, and reap the benefits. Because I want to keep this "happy" groove going and going. It's just that simple. And that radical.

Woke up this morning with this lil' ditty on my mind:

I once had a friend named Joe
who had a terrible ache in his toe.
I was inspired, and so I inquired,
"How is your Tojo?"

I do indeed have a friend who has a bothersome toe, but his name ain't Joe.  So, a little artistic license. 

I have not been moved to post much lately, but that doesn't mean a lot hasn't been going on.  I'm healthy, happy and busy.  How is it that life is so good right now?  I count my blessings.

Waaayyyy back when I moved to Sacramento (2 years) I asked my readers if I was going to love this new life or not.  The answer is unequivocally "yes!"

A recent hike to the Sutter Buttes brought out the photographers, and how.  There I am, on the far left. A great trip, wonderful, interesting people.  Sponsored by the Sutter Buttes Land Trust.  A group of farmers and ranchers who open up their private land for guided hikes around the buttes -- the smallest mountain range in the U.S.

And last night, at Sacramento State college, a divine concert by Jordi Savall.  He chose Sacramento for his one and only U.S. performance this year.  How in the world did that happen?  He plays the viola da gamba, an instrument that died out for about 250 years, as the transmission from teacher to student was lost.  It is a terrific instrument, and I'd love to know the history of the particular one he used last night.  He took us through the history of music written for the viola da gamba, and treated us to various tunings, percussion, plucking, and bowing.

During intermission I had to use the restroom, as we are wont to do, and was stuck in a long line of women because there were only TWO stalls in the restroom!  My line companions and I had a good laugh about that, and I explained why there probably was no accessible stalls - 40 year old building with no appreciable renovation to kick in ADA code.  I was transported back to my days of a construction project manager, and then looked around with those old eyes and saw all kinds of code violations!  Gosh, retirement is a good thing.  I don't have to be the building code policewoman anymore.

Enjoy some Jordi Savall, won't you?

TGIF - On St. Valentine's Day

[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]

By E. E. Cummings

 

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Enjoying the Jam

My friend S. and I stopped by M.'s for their weekly music jam session.  I had no idea what to expect, but S. assured me I would have a great time.  And that I did.  After being instructed by M. to "Grab an egg!" I realized there were little wood eggs filled with beads, or seeds, or something, to make rythm to the music.  I had a great time shakin' that egg.

 This lil' guy showed up with his mom, to provide some age diversity to a room full of oldsters.  He was delightful.  He knew his way around, and let the fellas play away, happily eating crackers and drawing on stickies.

Eva, our singer, was a true songbird.  She also knew her way around several African rhythm instruments.

One fella brought along his new toy - a synthesized drum. Yeah, we got down.  Drumming on cardboard boxes and the coffee table to an old rock tune which escapes me now.  Chalk it up to the wine.

And here, our host, jams on with his rum and coke, a most gracious gentleman artist who provided us with food and beverages, and later had a pizza delivered which we simply inhaled.

I came away from the evening simply enlivened by the music, the colorful characters, the stories, and the generosity of our host.  The last time I had such a grand experience was on my last night in North Carolina, when I attended a jam session by some old-timey musicians who blew my mind.  That was a couple of years ago...and the memory still makes me giddy.

What memories I have of practicing with my old band, going over songs until we got everything just right.  Until we were sick of them, but knew we had them down.  I am long past the guitar playing stage -- a distant memory -- but these folks inspired me.  Damn, but they did.

Whistle While You Work

There is something supremely satisfying in cleaning house while listening to music.  I have several play lists I've made for the task, but this my latest and best.  All these songs compel my body to move.

Where Not to Look for Freedom - The Belle Brigade

Get the Party Started - P!nk Greatest Hits...So Far!!!             

This Magic Moment-Lake Street Dive-Fun Machine 

Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison-Black & White Night

Defying Gravity (Glee Cast Version)

Frim Fram Sauce-Diana Krall -The Very Best of Diana Krall

That Better Day - ByrdJones - Radio Soul

Thing Called Love- Bonnie Raitt-The Best of Bonnie Raitt

Faith-Lake Street Dive     Fun Machine - EP           

Shawn Colvin   -These Four Walls           

Sweet Caprice-Mumbo Gumbo  Fun Pak

Emerald Street-Eliza Gilkyson  - Beautiful World        

We Belong Together  -Rickie Lee Jones   Pirates

Ecstasy-George Fenton   Living Out Loud Soundtrack

I'll Fly Away-Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss-O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Keep On the Sunny Side-The Whites O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Music from the Film)

Hey, Soul Sister-Train  - Hey, Soul Sister

Common Threads-Bobby McFerrin  - Medicine Music

Going up the Country-Canned Heat  The Best of Canned Heat           

100 Years-Five for Fighting  -The Battle for Everything           

Dancing With Myself (Glee Cast Version)

Hollaback Girl- Gwen Stefani Love, Angel, Music, Baby

Wild Night-John Mellencamp - Words & Music - John Mellencamp's Greatest Hits

Julie's House-Leo Kottke - Leo Kottke: Essential Folk           

Daughter-Loudon Wainwright III   - Daughter

Walkin' After Midnight-Patsy Cline - Best of Patsy Cline

Me and That Train-Patty Larkin- A Gogo

Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk  Rufus Wainwright  - Poses           

You Got the Silver-Susan Tedeschi - Hope and Desire

Burning Down the House-Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense

What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)-Kelly Clarkson  - Stronger

Take Me to the River-Talking Heads- Stop Making Sense

Ho Hey-The Lumineers  - Ho Hey - Single           

Royals -Lorde  - Pure Heroine            

Quite a mix of musical styles -- I do have eclectic tastes.

Today I've been really organizing, throwing out junk, and making room for a new desk to hold my new computer that's coming on Monday.  I purchased a 27 inch iMac and am very excited!  I currently work on a MacBook Pro laptop, which is a great computer and has served me well for 4 years.  I want a large screen in order to process my photographs, and after checking out a couple of friends' iMacs, I knew that was the right move for me.  I'll be able to view the photos in large format, which is what I want when making corrections with Lightroom or Photoshop.

And so, house organization in my small apartment is a must.  Where to fit in such a monster? After considering many spots, I've selected the best location and the work is on to make it fit.  And the music is keeping me buoyant and joyful.

When the weather turns

Well, I've managed to avoid research on my report on the photographer Walker Evans.  I'll get to it...in the meantime I'm in cooking mode.  Playing jazz on the ipod, making tomato sauce from fresh, homegrown tomatoes and garlic; putting together the innards for a Shepard's Pie to take with me when I visit my daughter.  Last night I made a tomato tarte that a friend and I enjoyed.  Oh, and for an appetizer, I made the Curry and Sriracha Roasted Garbanzo beans from the Simple Veganista.  Oh, they were good.  Spicy.  But not too.  What a healthy snack!  Legumes are especially great for those of us who live with diabetes; they digest slowly and evenly so no blood sugar spikes.  And nutritious.  Much better than a bag of potato chips (empty calories).

It's one of my favorite ways to relax, cooking.  When I'm not under pressure.  Just hanging, listening to music, waiting for the daily mail, doing homework (yeah, right).  When the weather turns chilly, it's the best time to cook up a storm.  I've got meals for days now. 

Hearth and Home.  Speaking of which, I went to a fundraising breakfast today for an organizing called Mutual Housing.  And I made a small monthly donation.  This group has been around for 25 years now, a friend of mine is the CEO, and her girlfriend (also my friend) invited me to join her at her table.  I am so impressed with the work these folks have been doing -- we heard the stories of several current and former residents of Mutual Housing projects, which are so much more than "projects."  People are provided with a safe, clean, well-maintained, affordable place to live and thrive.  Their children grow up in a community that emphasizes healthy living, community participation and education.  Many of the residents go on to lives with purpose and dignity.  I can't tell you how this presentation warmed my heart.  Wish there housing developments like this all over the world!  Check it.

Double Booking

I've been too busy for my own good.  I'm double booking things.  Just found out I missed a massage appt. with my very expensive therapist yesterday -- didn't even have on my calendar.  I was enjoying myself at the wedding of dear friends.

I also double booked dinner for tomorrow night, but I've righted that one and will reschedule one for Wed. night.

The Urban Dictionary defines Double - Booking (or over-booking) thusly.  But mine are not of the romantic nature.  Airlines routinely overbook, don't they?  What's their excuse?

I'm just too damned busy.  Homework is not getting done.  Playing with new camera is not getting done.  I'm often feeling as if I'm forgetting something -- like that massage appt. yesterday -- but I don't know what it is.  Christ.  If I'm like this now, what the hell will I be like 20 years from now?  Assuming I have the good fortune to make it that long.

I feel like crawling into an isolation tank and floating in salt water with all senses blocked.  I'm on overload.

Tell me, dear readers, how do you combat overload?  (and YES, even retired people experience it, thank you very much).

TGIF

It's Friday and I've already done a typical 'weekend' thing.  Stayed with a friend in St. Helena (Napa Valley).  We took a walk yesterday around the nearby vineyards, and today a walk through the Catholic Cemetery near his home.  Here's the view out the back about 7:30 a.m.

The entire valley is a beautiful place; St. Helena exceptionally so.  And the front and back yard of this house is like a healing sanctuary with water sounds and plenty of birds.

This morning we walked the cemetery wherein lie some of the revered of St. Helena - the famous old wine families that have been there for generations.  Lavish head stones and crypts.  Being there got me thinking, and us talking about how we think our lives are so very important and in the end we end up dead - no more.  My friend recently lost his mother to cancer.  It wasn't a sad conversation, just an acknowledgment that we all end up "six feet under" and that this life is likely all we get.  I started thinking about all the years of blogging I've done, and, oh my gawd, what if all that blogging got erased by the Internet?  Maybe I should print the whole thing out?  And then...I thought...what does it matter?  But then I remember the memoirs of one of my ancestors and her family life homesteading with her husband and children in 1910.  Rich memories of every day occurrences.  Barn dances and barn burnings; neighbor helping neighbor; the sod house which was their first dwelling.  It meant a lot to me to read that.  They are no more, but their lives live on through their stories.

So, a lovely, albeit short, visit with a good friend.  Thoughtful conversations, watching the night sky from the hot tub, sleeping like a baby.  As they say, "Priceless."

Hope you have a lovely weekend and appreciate this life we have.  We have it good, my friends.