simple pleasures 2

What's your preference?

City scape or countryside?
High rise or cabin in the woods?
Picnic or fine restaurant?
Theater, opera or outdoor concerts?
Art museums or arboretum?
Do you prefer serenity or parties?
Tell the truth or what they want to hear?
Reading or watching TV?
Walking at the beach or city line avenue?
Shopping for bargains or name brands?
Do you believe less is more?
Chicken wings or roasted rosemary chicken with all the trimmings?
For dessert, Ice cream or creme brulee?
Do you spend Sunday relaxing or frantically preparing for work on Monday?
Do you believe one person can change the world?
If you could change just one thing would it be within yourself or out in the world?
You don't have to reveal your answer, unless you want to).
Would you do things differently or just the same if you had the chance?

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My answers;

Green acres is the place for me!
A cabin in the woods, lakeside preferred!
I must admit I enjoy tring new restaraunts.
Tough one, but outdoor concerts prevail.
Again, tough choice, give me the green trees of Longwood, Morris, or Garden of Eden.
Serenity after a great party. I cheated.
The truth is often hard, but much prefered.
Reading. There are 57 channels and nothing on.......
Give me a walk at the beach anytime, even winter.
The joys of bargain shopping.
I've learned you really can do with less and enjoy it.
Uhmm, roasted chicken with rosemary and lemon, mashed potatoes & gravy, fresh vegies.
I'd take Cherry Garcia or Vanilla Swiss Almond.
Lazing on Sunday, lazing on a Sunday afternoon.
Yes, examples Harry Chapin, MLK, Rosa Parks...
Our position on the environment in this country.
Knowing what I know now, I'd do things differently.
I would also plant more trees! I urge you to do the same, if you can!

Ruminations, not me.....

Well, let's see how I am doing on the annual resolutions;
Eating breakfast every day- OK, so far so good.
Eat right, guess chocolate mousse and cherry cake for breakfast yesterday blows that deal. But I told Deb it may have been the best dessert I ever had. Save it for lunch, hardly, it lasted as long as I savored every bite. Exercising the waistline, new machine and so far about three ten minute sessions. Doesn't even account for yesterday's breakfast, oh it was that good.
But the most important goal one is still intact. Don't worry, be happy!

How are you guys/gals doing? Oh, don't tell me that you didn't make any, that's too easy.

While the world slumbers..

Up early while the rest of the world around me is still quiet. This may well be the most serene time of day. The sunrise is peaceful and beautiful unlike the angry red sky of last night's setting sun. Today's agenda may well be challenging as they are going to do some tests of my shoulder. So I have asked for a sedative, just in case I need it as I loathe MRI's. There is a second doctor's appointment in the afternoon and as a reward a Swedish massage. A massage is something I have not done in almost a year! That should help.

Give a listen

Warm weather for mid January. Usually by this time I'd be looking for a light box or a trip to sunny Florida. Yesterday while driving to the market I got hooked on one song from Don Henley's "Inside Job" and to honor one of my favorite singer/songwriters of all time I wanted to share what seems like a mantra for me these days:

A lot of things have happened
Since the last time we spoke
Some of them are funny
Some of ’em ain’t no joke
And I trust you will forgive me
If I lay it on the line
I always thought you were a friend of mine

Sometimes I think about you
I wonder how you’re doing now
And what you’re going through

The last time I saw you
We were playing with fire
We were loaded with passion
And a burning desire
For every breath, for every day of living
And this is my Thanksgiving

Now the trouble with you and me, my friend
Is the trouble with this nation
Too many blessings, too little appreciation
And I know that kind of notion—well, it just ain’t cool
So send me back to Sunday school
Because I’m tired of waiting for reason to arrive
It’s too long we’ve been living
These unexamined lives

I’ve got great expectations
I’ve got family and friends
I’ve got satisfying work
I’ve got a back that bends
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my Thanksgiving

Have you noticed that an angry man
Can only get so far
Until he reconciles the way he thinks things ought to be
With the way things are

Here in this fragmented world, I still believe
In learning how to give love, and how to receive it
And I would not be among those who abuse this privilege
Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge

And I don’t mind saying that I still love it all
I wallowed in the springtime
Now I’m welcoming the fall
For every moment of joy
Every hour of fear
For every winding road that brought me here
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my Thanksgiving

For everyone who helped me start
And for everything that broke my heart
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my Thanksgiving



Musicians:
Michael Fisher
Don Henley
Stan Lynch
Jai Winding

Thanks You Don Henley from one of your biggest fans! Friends please give a listen and tell me what you think. He has a website that features this particular album/CD.

57 Channels and nothing on.....

What is up with t.v.? Sometimes I ask myself whay am I paying for this?Another "reality" show? Are we addicted, or what? I find myself mindlessly watching those on Bravo. I usually surf the channels and settle on HGTV or QVC (my weaknesses, both likely designed to keep one spending money).
I will admit there are a few that hold my attention; House, My Boys and Ugly Betty. Usually its reruns of Six Feet Under (still compelling) or old movies on TNT. What will I watch when the football season is over. Win or loose I am always sad to see the Eagles season come to an end. Let's hope they keep going during the playoff! Go Green!

Tell me what do you like to watch when your t.v. is on and why? Whatever would move you to buy a big screen t.v.(other than football)?

Last years blog, not much has changed or has it?

Favorite things
My favorite things about a new year:

HOPE that this year will bring health, happiness and peace we all desire.
While most people are starting diets and exercise regimes I hope to be able to continue walking several miles each week. (don't really like going when its cold outside). Somehow I managed to loose a few pounds....

Cleaning out the clutter from closets and the attic seems to be in some way therapeutic. Having a small house has forced me to streamline and not collect too much stuff. A work in progress I admit.

Wishing that this year the fighting will cease and American soldiers will come home to their families.

A new year brings a new opportunity to achieve the goals that we set for ourselves.
Finally, Faith the things will all turn out for the best!

Happy Birthday Davy Baby!

Since 1972 and Ziggy Stardust, I have had a thing for David Bowie's eccentric style and music. He shares his birthday with that lesser famous singer, sometime actor Elvis Presley!

Cultivating a new Garden

Today's mail was filled with new years gardening catalogs filled with beautiful tempting annuals, perennials and trees. I want to start the new year with a healthier more positive approach. I want to enjoy some of those things on my to do list like taking a vacation. I've been taking pictures with my old camera(not digital) and a few are worthy of framing. Guess I need to learn to add them to the blogs. Today I found the piece of exercise equipment ordered for a NY resolution on the back step, no more excuses. Trying not to eat sugary stuff this afternoon was hard but I managed, until now. Who left that carton of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream in the freezer? The creative part of my brain is reusing and recycling whatever items I can around the house, less is more. One example is a quilt top of children's Christmas fabrics that have been here for a long time and I quilted even while watching the Eagles game yesterday. My Gran would be proud. Waste not, want not. Where else have I heard that? Great news that Momma Jax is better and will be back to singing a church before we know it. There are many things to be thankful for and sometimes we loose sight of the blessings in our lives. Life is too short and I don't have any time to waste cultivating negative thoughts. Of course if we all planted just one tree, imagine the improved air quality. A quarter acre of green grass can provide air for a family of four. A quarter acre of trees well, that would be miraculous... imagine the possibilities.