Less is more?

I had been procrastinating for weeks about having a yard sale to reduce the unneccessary stuff from my home as well. Stuff seems to multiply like rabbits. One of my first blogs was about moving a family member from their home and all the treasures that they could not bare to part with. Now I wonder if the apple doesn't fall far from the tree? Is this a heriditary trait? If so, I'm in big trouble as both my paternal Grandmom and the maternal side of my family have a penchant for saving things well beyond their time. Now I ask myself when was the last time I painted? Why am I keeping supplies for crafts I've long ago lost imterest in? Why do I have gold flatwear and a silver service? AHHHHHH! There is fabric enough to make a quilt for each of my blogger friends. Forget about the books........six bookcases in this house. How many books do we really read again? Help! Maybe George Carlin was right that we buy bigger houses to keep all of our stuff. Is there a cure for this insanity? This is the Saturday that all the insanity stops....if it doen't rain you'll find me in the side yard, coffee in hand, sellling stuff I just had to buy, for much less than its worth. Because misery loves company I'm enlisting my neighbors in this foolishness as well. That is if they haven't read this yet. Hurry over, treasures like these will not last long! Help.............

Fall rememberences and Garbo

I've tried to watch Garbo films playing on TCM this month, but still have not caught Camille that Mercie reccomended.
With summer offically fading this week I'd rather take in one more walk at the beach, one last stroll down the boards. Being near the ocean is the place most likely to remind me of my Dad, of fishing trips, riding the waves through the AC inlet surpasses any rollercoaster ever built. Fall also reminds me that its time for a trip to Lancaster, Pa. The Amish restaraunts serve hearty fare homes in a homestyle setting. The rapidly fading vistas of horse drawn carriages are getting pushed aside for traffic of all kinds. Faster yet, the farm houses and red barns are becoming housing developments. I enjoy visiting Lancaster as it reminds me of my childhood in Ohio. Life was simple then and in the fading summer days we'd sit at the fishing pond with bamboo poles and red and white bobbers that sink when a fish was on the line.
As for the beautiful Garbo, I don't believe she wanted to be totally alone, more likely misunderstood. She probably just wanted a little solitude and serenity. Who doesn't?

What a Week?

I hardly know where to begin to descibe the roller coaster of a week that I've had. Last weekend I told of the Jack Johnson concert at Penn's Landing. Didn't mattter that there were only a handfull of "old folks" like me. The crowd was adrift with the local college students. What a night!

Later there was an attempted break in at the Garden of Eden. Thirteen years without a problem, but this is not the same neighborhood of friendly Italians that looked out for one another.

By Tuesday, I was interviewing for another job! Thanks to all for the e-mails of congradulations on Friday. Most importantly to Merci, who has always been helpful and supportive. Within a day we were told out office is moving and for some its too long a drive. While some were doing their happy dance others were crying and complaining. Really too much complaining if you ask me, but then my drive doesn't change much. I see the drive as an opportunity to unwind befor you go home. This may or may not happen anyway. Why worry now?

I must decide if I am going to attend a class reunion, yikes. There is my nephews wedding in October. Would it be wrong not to go? I am not really in the mood for it. Add that the bridal tea/shower is being held at my Mothers former home. Seems strange to me.

There are so many changes before me I don't know where to start but I do believe that change is a good thing and the future is waiting for us to make the best of any opportunities. As long as we live everyday the best we can and never forget to tell those we love what they mean to us, thats all that really matters in the end.

In closing, I hope that we can rally to aide those persons who need our help in the Gulf Coast. No matter how large or small, we should all help if we can. You never know when we may be the ones in need.

Peace and love.

Summer Vacation

Wow, time to return to the office already and I was just starting to enjoy this vacationing concept. As I may have mentioned must have worn myself out and was sick with allergies/cold symptoms at the start. Went to the movies (of course) to see Broken Flowers and the 40 year old virgin which was very funny. Walked around at the Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill after spending an extra hour trying to find the place. We tried to ask directions of a gentleman who lived in the area but had no ideas about it....Hummm. It is smaller that Longwood but equally impressive to any gardener or architect. There are fountains and ponds, the english garden and the highlight is probably the train garden. The kid in all of us should enjoy that site. It is probably a lot more colorful in spring when the flowerering trees are in bloom, but it is a great place to visit. If you don't get lost like I did its only minutes outside Philadelphia off Lincoln Drive and Germantown Avenue.
The highlight of my vacation was the Jack Johnson concert at Penn's Landing. He was GREAT! He had his friend G Love and the Animal Preservation Orchestra. The APO was not too impressive until some of its members played with Jack and G. There was another opening act but I missed most of that. I am please to tell you that this concert was the best one this summer. In a summer where there was a concert scheduled every month, this one was the best. Thanks to my friend for this belated birthday gift, it was a wonderful. Without a real plan it turned out to be a wonderful vacation! I must apologize to the girls for bailing out on the theater yesterday, thanks for being so understanding.

Happens Everytime

Maybe I wait too long to take vacations. The past few weeks have been very stressful professionally and personally. With only three days till vacation I came down with what I thought was a cold last Sunday. You know I'm sick when I don't go out of the house for four days. I didn't read one book and didn't talk because I had a horrible sore throat. Maybe the allergy medicine is just is not working? The message is clear, I need a break! Sometimes it has to be about yourself. Giving too much can be costly and I am paying a price. Happens all the time, I catch something just enough to annoy me, rob my energy, and cause me to become a couch potato eating Ben & Jerry's for comfort.

I cancelled all my appointments and activities and just watched the sad excuses that t.v. programming has become. Saddest of all is what is happening in the Gulf Coast states. Wake up America, wake up GW! Why weren't there troops and supplies arriving the morning after the storm passed. Homeland Security indeed! Perhaps there is something I can do to help? Contact the Red Cross, send money, something? If every adult sent just one dollar, imagine the power that could have?

Since I am not contageous I am going to carry the tissues and go out to face the beautiful world today. Running errands yesterday doesn't count. So where will I go and what will I do? Hummm, summer is winding down fast and there are plenty of things that I haven't done yet? This is supposed to be my vacation and it will be over before I know it!