the long road back to catching up ...

BOY HAVE WE CHANGED ... but then again .... maybe not all that much (?)

a few days ago .... I made solid plans to meet up with a friend from high school. It's been a V-E-R-Y long time since we have seen each other. (at our 20 year class reunion) We've both been thru a lot, some of which was not so good .... but we have come out of it in happy places and we shared some of that with each other today at breakfast/lunch. I would have recognized her easily even though you can see we have both changed a little. She gave me a bear hug when I arrived, and we took a moment just looking at each other ... letting it sink in that we FINALLY made this happen. It was probably an hour & a half before we looked at the menu to order. (and during our chat, we had more than one table comment on our "reunion").
I don't know about Charley .... but beforehand, I was feeling a little trepidatious. We'd been really close at one time, particularly our senior year of high school. We were in each others' wedding parties (the first time around), & we were pregnant at the same time, but ... these were milestones more than a lifetime ago. A lot of water has passed under MY bridge! We began talking & our stories poured out onto the table & spread like syrup. A couple of times, Charley described chapters in her life & it was as if my own experiences were on her pages. Yes- much had changed for each of us & yet the journey along the way had often mirror'd the other and, at times, nearly crossed paths without knowing it.
The first time I looked at my watch ... it was 3 & a half hours later, and it seemed we had but scratched the surface. So, there will be more stories to share & more reminiscing I'm sure in the not-to-distant future. It seemed fitting to post our current pictures as well, because we agreed that we are the happiest we have ever been and we "look it". And I'm sure, before I drift off tonight, a memory will pop up that I will want to ask her about or remind her of ... when next we share the same space. :o)

Living with Passion

THAT's the way I would like to look back years from now (and I hope there are many of them) ... and feel it was the way I lived. I have passion for my husband & family & home ... but that's not quite what I mean. I would like to push away some of the fears I have that hold me back. I would like to step outside my own "box". As I get older, I seem to be getting more cautious, and in doing so- I could be missing out. I want to take the butterflies of fear, line them into formation and let them soar. And not just once .... I want to do it again, and again, and again.

when "almost" is far from enough

I arose earlier than usual, had less coffee than I would have liked, stuffed my feet into shoes that I wore for over 8 hours, stood for 3 hours straight while being told what to do, ate amongst strangers, stood for another 3+ hours, being asked time and again for more, more, more .... and came home - back aching, feet throbbing, empty stomached and ..... with a smile on my face.
I guess I'm thinking PINK!

yippy skippy, my roof is drippy!

and this household knows how much I LOVE the rain!!

true .... it's more likely to keep us in doors (and in my design studio ... wooo-hoooo), but the Captain has reminded me that

it also means no kayaking, or hiking, or patio cocktails :o( THEN I reminded him ... no gardening or car washing and HE perked right up! SO- while the rain is filling the water barrel, I am filling my senses with apple pie (via Yankee Candle tarts), adding anniversary #11 to my Hawaii Fairy Tale album, listening to CCCC rehearsal tapes, & munching on the mandarin orange the Captain peeled for me this morning!

ahhhhhhhh the life of a princess!

recipe for a PINK dessert

mix 1 part section leader ....

5 parts wanabees ...

1 part newbie ...

gently blend each part together til smooth, & place in warming oven to "set"....... ....... .......... ......

repeat as needed til done.

...............

LOW calorie, high energy solution to a quiet, run -of- the- mill, Wednesday evening at home! TRY IT

the long & short of Tuesdays

I'm NOT kidding - but I'm perplexed .... how can a day be long AND short??

get a hobby.

SERIOUSLY. If you have a hobby, at least half your time seems spent- before you even get to it.

I have the joy of RE-entering the world of Sweet Adelines. This is especially meaningful because my departure a few years back was under painful circumstances. Being a part of this talented & amazing group of women makes my life busier & adds some minor anxieties .... but mostly ... it makes life (more) well rounded.

THAT BEING SAID ... our "regular" rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings, lasting about 2.5-3 hours. Doesn't sound like much time right? BUT- bear in mind that it is a rehearsal ... NOT a practice. Therefore .... one should have practiced at home already ... then show up at rehearsal to perform. For some - that might mean an hour or so a day, but for me- joining the chorus just a month from regional competition .... it's more. It's learning notes, memorizing lyrics, figuring out choreography, and .... loosing sleep. Dreaming about performing, thinking about words and facial expressions, over (and over and over). sooooooooooooooo ......

With Tuesdays being wrapped around chorus for a while (3 songs for now .... probably 7 more over the next few months) .... I'm thinking about using an older photo for my project 365 on these days, then journaling about why I chose it.

so I started with a really cool pic .... of my mom. I printed the picture out as 7X9, embellished it slightly, and journaled on the back of it- and slid it into a page protector :o)

AND THEN ..... I went back to practicing my music!

and then she said ... "I love you both, but I like her more"

I cannot even imagine the pain that sentence might bring to a heart.
Especially hearing it from a mother's lips.
Honesty ... is HIGHLY over-rated!
This moment- fortunately was from a tv show. But words, perhaps not exact to these, but hurtful yet ... have been uttered.
in anger.
in error.
in selfishness.
When I heard it said, the air caught in my throat .... and I pondered ....
Have I ever hurt someone in this way, however innocently or unintended? Would I have seen the wounded look on their face or in their eyes?
I pray not to the former, I hope so to the latter.

as the night grows late ....

It's been quite a while since I stayed up late into the night after the house has become full of sleepy sighs and quiet breathing. The TVs are silent and every room has been invades with darkness, save for the of my computer screen here. A slight breeze tickles thru a windchime now & again and I can hear the hum of the refrigerator, the swaying of the clock pendulum, & kitty snores. These things comfort me. I'm "chatting" with a couple of people on Facebook, and considering a cup of coffee, but I don't want to get up. I'm comfortable. I'm content.
Times eludes me. About an hour ago, I went to tell the Captain good night, hoping to catch him before he finishes tonight's Twilight Zone story (that he's reading on his phone) .... but he's already snuggled deep into the cavern he creates under the electric blanket. I know that even if I should crawl daintily into bed 2 hours from now, he will want me to give him a kiss goodnite. It's as if he's not totally asleep til I do so ..... the way "moms" are when their child is not yet home. sweet.
I've cleared my design table of clutter, made a short to do list for tomorrow, taken something out of the freezer to thaw for Monday's dinner .... and painted one fingernail with Flamenco Pink. And now .... I'm thinking about the book I started reading on my Kindle last night .... sitting on my bedside table..... beconning to me, as I begin feeling the fatigue of the day.
and hoping- that when I get up tomorrow ...
1. my coffee will already be brewing
2. a mango will be freshly cut
3. the sun will be shining
and ........
it will be my turn on Words with Friends !

banishment of da bacon-ator

the Sunday morning plan .... (as I was informed) ... fresh fruit, grilled bacon & a veggie & cheese omelet, ala the Captain. WELL, I guess 2 out of 3 ain't bad!

As you can see- the bacon was just a wee bit overdone. Since it was the last of it .... the Captain was mortified. And you would think it was a prescribed medication by the way he was affected!

Lo & behold .... the remainder of the breakfast was GREAT of course and while grocery shopping later in the day- he made a B-line for the pork section!! But the Captain has already announced that there will be a grilling chaperone at all times when it comes to his precious bacon!

waves (not the "queen" kind)

with the storms looming yesterday .... the Captain and I headed over to the beach at high tide (8:30am), to get in a walk and some wave watching before the rain was due. The picture opportunities were abundant & the waves, though not as big as forecasted, were pounders and we spent over an hour walking the sand & listening to the constant roar of the water. The 51 degree temps kept foot traffic thin, so the only people we saw were those out to walk their dogs.

With Starbucks in hand, a full camera battery, & the Captain to chat with- it was an invigorating and interesting way to start the day ..... and I wish I could get my tail in gear more often to do this. Hmmmm .... maybe I can!

birds of a different color?)

I TOTALLY agree .... pigeons are NOT our friends when it comes to the damage they do to our local pier & boardwalk. If interacted with properly ... it wouldn't be an issue, but it's just too easy for people to hand a cracker or piece of bread to a toddler & listen to them giggle with delight while feeding the birdies! I confess, I did it myself MANY moons ago- before I was paying taxes to help keep the damage under control! (before I was educated about it for that matter). In our walk to "chat" with mom on her bench yesterday .... I noticed that while 97% of the birds were the "typical" grey version of the unpopular fowl .... there are some variations that are cool looking. NOT attractive enough to want hanging around on the light pole above me mind you- but .....

I am thankful that our yard feeders don't attract them ... otherwise they wouldn't be there! Today, we hosted a couple of bluejays that were dominating the pack .... but for the most part, ALL varieties were playing well together. (the kitty kats sure like the view)

Christopher PIZZA Evens

I happened across a dainty, marcasite ring last night. Nestled in it's sparkly center is a heart shaped, blue topaz ..... and looking at it- my heart went mushy.
It reminds me of my son.
Christopher Scott
Usually called Chris. Sometimes Chrisser, youngin', punkin, or cutie pie. And, a couple of times ... by his own admission claimed his middle name was pizza. On rare (VERY RARE), occassions, by his full name- because he was (and still is) a good kid. I was lucky in this way- since he was following in the footsteps of an older brother who had given me great joy as well. But Chris ..... well, Chris & I had more time alone together to become friends. Those years in his life when he already knew the difference between right & wrong. When he had the family values. When he still listened to his mama. Before he was ready to spread his wings to fly. That time solidified his trust in me, his love for me. Or at least that's the way I see it.
Chris is usually the first to call me on a holiday. He sometimes calls just to say hi. He has rarely ever broken a promise. And he's a great dad. He adores his wife, he works hard, & he's smart. He's had some hard knocks and taken them in stride. He learns from his mistakes & willingly admits when he screws up. He's loving, & funny, loyal & considerate ..... and hugable.
And now ... glancing down at this delicate, silvertoned ring. that I'm wearing ... I think of him, as I often do- from that special place in my heart where he always resides .... and a longing to see him & get one of his big bear hugs.