I feel blessed that during this month: My only health challenge was the sniffles. I have had fantastic calls and texts from my sons as well as other members of my family and friends. I have reconnected with people from my past. The community yard sale was a success. My niece returned safely to the U.S. from her studies abroad. Each of my sons have earned fantastic opportunities and are making a positive difference in the world. Margaret Hogg is making strides to recover from her stroke. I was asked my opinion on someone's writing. I have seen some good and not so enjoyable movies. I have met some new neighbors. There has been a lot squeezed into these first 30 days. Today, the 31st, we once again have postcard perfect day and I am going to head to the beach to work on my books. I am so lucky to have flexibility in my days and not confined to a specific routine.

I am so very grateful to be alive. Especially to hear about the things that are happening in my son's lives and their families. Despite being separated geographically and the fact that both Tom and Jim's families are always on the go and super busy. I appreciate so much when they share what is happening, magically I am part of their lives despite any distance. No doubt reflecting on this first month of the new year and my entire life adventure so far, I must be one of the most fortunate people ever. No wonder I am so very happy and recognize that I am so very blessed.

I hope your New Year has started off well and when you reflect over the events and time that passed in January, your spotlight shines on the things that brought you pleasure and happiness.  

Caitlyn and her boyfriend, Jordan were met at the airport in San Francisco by my sister, Wendy when they returned to the United States.  Wendy is currently living in Santa Cruz, California with her new man, Alan. Caitlyn and Jordan will visit there for a few days and then fly back to family in Tennessee. She has one more semester at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC. She graduates this May.

This morning I am feeling restless and wanting to explore new places and have a new adventure.

In the shower, I started to remember some of my past adventures near and far. I have been blessed to see some extraordinary places. Here are my top four.

Arriving at the Grand Canyon, I ran to the look-out only to find the entire view was obstructed by fog. It was magical to see the grandeur of the canyon become visible a little at a time.  (This is number 3 on my list)

Number one happened the next day. It was watching the sunrise at the Grand Canyon . I swear I heard angels sing. It was freezing cold but inside I felt a warm glow of peace and extreme happiness. 

Number two was arriving on my flight to Niarobi at midnight and looking up at the sky and seeing so many stars that it took my breath away.  It was so beautiful. Until that moment, I thought the starry nights at sea, when I was on a cruise, were the most I would ever see.  It was so very beautiful and amazing.

Number four was when I was in Japan. One of the sightseeing trips my son, Tom and his wife, Shelia took me to was a magnificient park. I thought the nature that surrounded us was the reward as we walked. Then I saw it, an enormous Buddha. It was so huge. I will never forget it sitting so magnificiently outside for all to visit.  

BEST PICTURE

"The Artist" - I haven't seen it. I might go. It would be interesting to see the style movies used to be done. I enjoy going to the movies and have silent movies to thank for starting it all.

"The Descendants" - Saw it but it wasn't my type of movie. I thought George Clooney and the actors did great. I just prefer different.  This was like a movie for the Lifetime Channel.  On the other hand my sister, Wendy, posted on Facebook that she loved it.  That is what is great about movies, music, books and art, there is something for every taste.

"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" - I haven't seen this yet. I probably will. I heard Tom Hanks talking about the movie. He said something very provocative. "We know how we felt on September 11th and how the events that day changed everything but do we remember September 10th? We talk about how we should treat each day as though it were going to be our last and be sure the people we love know we care however busy lives and irritations at each other sometimes get in the way and things go unsaid, unforgiven. Maybe we should live each day like we wish we had on September 10th." 

"Hugo" - I enjoyed this movie.  It was a little slow to start but had a special spirit about it.

"Midnight in Paris" - I saw this movie because I had a free pass. I went back for a second time because I loved it. I will probably buy it when it comes out and gets to the $5.00 bin. It is a magical story.  It is one of the first movies from Woody Allen that I have enjoyed. The scenery and feel are wonderful.  It may be that the storyline features a restless author and lets me glimpse some of my favorite artists from the past that charmed me. I am surprised to see it nominated for best picture but loved it. I will no doubt watch it again and again.   

"The Help" - Great movie. Enjoyed it. The performances were awesome. This movie definitely deserves to be a Best Picture nominee.

"Moneyball" - I love sports and enjoyed this movie very much. It seems strange that the candidates for Best Picture seem to come from movies that are released late in the year.  Some have just barely hit theatres. I wish I could remember the titles of some of the movies I enjoyed during 2011 that captivated my interest. This movie was good, very good but not best of the year.

War Horse" - I haven't seen this movie. I have heard that it is amazing. I tend to stay away from war movies.

I enjoy going to the movies. I enjoy the whole experience: the big screen, the popcorn, sitting in the dark with friends while we are transported to another time or place.  My one criticism and shout-out to the studios making movies would be, "Please don't make everything in 3-D." I don't need my movies to jump out at me and it costs anywhere from $3.00 to $4.50 more to see these shows.  They won't let you bring in your own glasses. I have a basket overflowing with them. 

Movies I have seen recently and enjoyed:  A Joyful Noise (Awesome, I want to get the soundtrack someday), Sherlock Holmes and MI-5 The Ghost Protocol (I loved the action in these movies but think Tom Cruise should keep his shirt on.) Contraband (Had lots of twists, it was a little raw but good) Two movies I saw that I would love to unsee and found disturbing were The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

My nephew, Josh enjoys movies and we have similar tastes but not always. He enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. He had read the books.

I am not one for watching all the award shows on TV, so I may miss the Oscars however my thanks go out to the many people who make movies. I enjoy your work. Thank you, please continue.  

Warm temperatures and sunshine are a fantastic way to start the week.  

It is Chinese New Year, the year of the Dragon. We always get Chinese food from the same place. They are closed today. We surprised them yesterday by calling and wishing them an early Happy New Year. It is fun when the people you see regularily at stores and restaurants become part of your FRAMILY (combination of friend and family).
                                              
It is also National Pie Day. I love pie.  I bought the ingredients to make pies in my muffin tins. I planned on them being "little pies" in honor of the holiday (not to be mistaken as tarts).  Upon further reflection, I decided I would prefer to lose weight and become more vigilant about the process than enjoy pie. Consequently, the ingredients have been put aside for another time.

 

Now some of my things have nice new homes.  The turn-out was terrific. I met some wonderful people.  All in all a very nice day.

I love to take my writing to the beach and watch people kite surf.  I saw this video posted on Facebook today of Sir Richard Branson.  The title was "Life begins at sixty."  Sir Richard Branson is someone who I admire for his business ingenuity and lust for life. He is a great reminder of "never too late". I hope you enjoy this video too.

Tomorrow night from 6PM - 9PM is set-up for the community yard sale on Saturday.  Thankfully we have a space in the gym so we can set-up the night before.  People selling outside have to be at the site at 6AM to prepare for the sale that begins at 8AM and goes to noon.  It is amazing the stuff I have accumulated and in some cases I am finding difficult to sell.  My "trash" is still my "treasures".  My hope is to make at least $220.00 so I can pay for the spot and still have at least $200. It would be truly awesome and helpful if it would be more. There are lots of items so if everything were to sell the number would be wonderful.

It will all depend on the customers and their interests. The economy here is still awful and from the number of people signed up to participate there may not be anyone left to shop. 

My neice Caitlyn is traveling the world through Wofford College. I never knew such wonderful opportunities existed. I love to travel, to see new places and meet people and learn about different customs and ways of life.  It is exciting that Caitlyn is experiencing so much. 

Currently she and her boyfriend Jordan are in Muang Ngoi Neua. According to wiki travel "it a small riverside village in Northern Laos with no permanent electricity and no road access. In the last few years it has become part of the Banana Pancake Trail with rapid construction of tourist infrastructure in response to the increasing influx of visitors. Nevertheless, it remains a low-key destination in a stunning location. Interesting treks can also be done to tribal villages in the area.


The village is only accessable by river. Take the 1-hour public boat from Nong Khiaw (daily 11:00 and 14:00, 20.000 kip) or charter one in Luang Prabang or Muang Khua."

It might not be the first place on my list of destinations I would like to explore however it sounds intriguing.
Caitlyn returns home the end of this month and goes back to classroom learning in February at Wofford. I imagine she will then be suffering from her own flavor of "wanderlust" until she graduates in May and can once again hit the road. 


 

It may be that our brains have a safety value which only allows us to handle grief, outrage or the ability to keep frightening or horrific scenes and events in the forefront of our minds. It may be that this "safety valve" is what enables us to go on with the responsibilities of everyday life rather than be consumed with emotions and feelings of helplessness.

In the meantime, the people immersed in the disaster can't escape. Today as I listened to the daily news, I found myself thinking of past news stories and wondered what is happening to make things better in those situations:  What is the status in New Orleans still recovering from Katrina so many years later? Towns demolished by tornadoes, are they being rebuilt? Where did the people who lost their homes to tornadoes, flood and fire go? What is happening in Japan since the tsunami? What is the status of those nuclear reactors and the brave people who were working at the risk of their own lives to prevent an even worse disaster?What is happening in Haiti, have the people gotten places to live beyond homemade tents? 

Beyond the global and national disasters there are times of personal crisis.  The person who has lost a loved one gets loving support initially but then people get on with their own lives, unfortunately that may be when then grief has actually set in.  Family and friends rally round when someone is ill or has an accident or surgery however afterwards everyone goes on with their own struggles, sometimes leaving the patient alone to rehab and for emotional mending. This isn't because people are bad or uncaring, just the opposite, I think it is because empathy can be overwhelming. If we live dwelling on the unfortunate things that make up the news and our life adventures, then the everyday individual responsibilities everyone has might go undone.

It is just important that every once in a while we stop and when we are counting our blessings take a moment and remember the news of yesterday and see if there is some way we can reach out to help.

If we know someone lost a loved one recently maybe it would be nice to reach out and check on how they are doing. Maybe we can take a moment to check-in with someone who has overcome obstacles or is in rehab or recovering from surgery. 

Maybe in our busy worlds, we should take a moment and reach out to people in a personal way. Our brains may have a safety valve that prevents overload and that is good and necessary, however we also have hearts and once in a while we need to let them remind us to pause and show we care.  

That is what I am going to do today. May I start by saying to my readers, thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit my blog. You make me smile. I appreciate you.

Yesterday was a busy day. Sorted through things being stored in a container, looking for items to sell at the community yard sale this weekend, January 21st.  It is amazing the things a person acquires over the years. I hope others will want them and buy them at the sale. Right now my goal is to downsize so my sons don't have a mountain of "treasures" to dispose of one day. My second goal is to raise money so I have some extra funds to use for bills and hopes for future possibilities.  My third goal is to downsize so that I have the flexibility to live in a smaller home. 

I love living in this condo and the view is priceless. I am thrilled I get to stay here through 2012. Since I rent, eventually this option may no longer be available.  

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this year I am all about change and having less stuff and maybe a little money will increase flexibility.

After sorting, it was on to the Manatee County Fair.  It is the perfect "appetizer" before the Florida State Fair opens next month. I always like to combine work with fun so the fair worked out great.  It reminded me of the Appalachian Fair I used to go in Gray Station, Tennessee. The only thing that truly surprised me was that instead of having the baked goods on display, they had photos of the entries and winning bakery items.

I didn't go on any rides. The midway always fascinates me at fairs.  We think of risk takers as those people who bungee jump from bridges and sky dive or ride rapids or climb mountains or drive race cars. In my opinion, people who get on the rides at Fairs are definitely risk takers.

I think some of the people who get on these rides must have the heart of a dare devil.  The rides twist and turn, go up and down and none look very secure.  I don't have that kind of courage and faith in their ability not to break and send me hurling to the ground but I do enjoy watching others.  On one ride that spun and twisted while rising and falling, going forward and backwards, two sisters caught my attention.  The youngest, maybe 8 years old, was having a terrific time, her sister, maybe 13, looked terrified and possibly about to get sick.  When the ride was over the young sister shouted, "I want to go again!" Meanwhile her sister carefully got off holding her stomach with a look on her face that seemed to say, "never again."

Pigs raced. Cows and rabbits looked cute. Chickens looked like dinner and Roosters crowed.

I enjoyed seeing the artwork, photographs and crafts on display.  All in all it was a fun time at the fair.

The late afternoon and evening was all about the football playoffs.  I had picked New Orleans and Denver to win and unfortunately they didn't. Today I am unloading the "treasures" I found me in the container yesterday (they spent a chilly night in the car). I will clean and price them while watching today's playoff games. I am rooting for Houston and Green Bay today.  It will be another blessed day of combining business with pleasure.
        

Thanks for being here and checking out my latest post.  I am going to become more vigilant and post more regularily this year. I have very much enjoyed going back and reading posts from years gone by. In all too many cases, it seems that although the days, weeks, months, and years have passed, I still am trying to accomplish the same things.  This may be the year with forward movement. 


Happy New Year! It's two thousand and a dozen as someone on TV said, 2012. Are you ready for what is ahead of you? Are you standing by, taking what is handed to you? Are you working to create visions for 2012?  This year, I am all about change. I am excited about making some changes in my life, changing my direction. I am looking forward to adding some adventure and risks, to being more grateful and appreciative and becoming more proactive in changing the things I can control and less concerned about the things I can't.

Maybe the full moon this week is working its magic, it feels like there is a really interesting vibe to the universe this week. I've felt it.  The people from coolworks.com mentioned it in their Newsletter and it describes perfectly how I feel.

Throughout my life I have learned that there is very little you can control. You never know when you are going to have a flat tire, when you might win the lottery or what might happen next.  We only can control our attitude and how we react to life's "surprises".  Sometimes the best we can do is to roll with it and as the book says, "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff."

I am excited about the possibilities each day holds and plan to make the bumper sticker, "Just Be Nice" my mantra. I am going to strive to improve my failing confidence by putting myself back into situations I used to relish and now scare me. My energy level may not be what I wish however it is not depleted so I am going to incorporate the strategy that an object in motion will stay in motion (smile). I already know what happens if you slow down, inertia sets in.

What ever your wishes and desires for the new year, I hope they come true.  The bottom-line is that I wish myself and everyone good health for if we have this and recognize the blessing, happiness is the outcome.

Happy New Year two thousand and a dozen or whatever you call it.  Enjoy!