·
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Home from the Dog-Walk with a
Rock in my Pocket.
Each
morning as Miss Zia and I make our rounds, I carry home a rock. I toss it under the tree by the back
door.
The
pile is growing.
Each
rock represents time spent happily walking, thinking, praying, meditating under
the bright blue, New Mexico skies. As I add a stone to the pile, I say a quiet
prayer of gratitude for the opportunity to live and breathe and be in the
moment.
The
rocks remind me of this small, daily joy.
What is life about, if it is not about acknowledging joy?
I
pause to place a small white stone atop the pile and then turn to watch Miss
Zia doing a happy doggie-dance. She is exhilarated by our morning walk and
leaps and bounds and lets her tongue loll.
Her spirit fills my heart.
I breathe in the fresh air and am ready to
start another amazing day of living.
·
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Reading Camino Blogs…”Now I
am Living!”
This excerpt below is written
by someone who has lived…since taking his fiddle on a 1,000 kilometer trek on
the Camino de Santiago, he has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. I spent my Sunday Am engrossed in his Camino
journal. Following is a brief excerpt…
El Camino. The Road.
It is a metaphor for a spiritual voyage; but it is also a very real, very
physical path. It is a hot, dusty line slicing through a parched landscape, a
cobblestone lane through a medieval village, the hard, concrete shoulder of a
bleak highway. It is continuous, unbroken, yet changing. The one constant is
the sound of footsteps – the heartbeat of the pilgrimage......
(Below is a description of a pilgrim he met on the
way…there are many amusing, insightful word pictures of fellow pilgrims in his
narrative. I just liked his observations about this particular man…I
like his phrase: “Now, I am living!” … it is how I have felt walking along the
Black Sea in Kerch and at dawn, watching the sun crest over the snowcapped
mountains here in Santa Fe…it is what I feel when I say “Life is good.” Life is good….and I am eager to walk this
pilgrimage…Like life, you do it one step at a time.)
…There is Michel, a very charming retired
French doctor, who is doing the Camino because he figures he has had such a
charmed and happy life, that he wants to reflect on it and give thanks. I am
sure that his life was stress, beepers, emergencies, etc. But now, he has a
very Zen attitude. He walks every day, not booking accommodations, living
simply and in the moment. We have shared some good walking time with Michel. He
always says “Now, I am living!” …
http://www.oliverschroer.com/index.htm
There
are photos, of course, and there are audio and video clips – listen to sleepers
snoring in the crowded hostel where pilgrim sleep inches apart in triple-decker
bunks! 8-)
Another
site to visit – the 2 slide shows (about 400 photos) give one a window into the
pilgrimage…
http://trek4babies.wordpress.com/
Like
most things in life, people who hear about our trek to Santiago either get it
or they don’t; to date, we’ve only had a few people who have reacted
negatively, and to be honest, I think it’s more about where they are in their
lives than anything else. By far, most people speak enviously of this journey
or with great encouragement.
Some folks think we’re brave to go without an
income for three months (we’re selling a car!), to set out with a bare minimum
of possessions (less than 8 kilos), no planned itinerary and only a sketchy
idea of the route. All I can say is that people have been walking the same path
for over 1,000 years and most seemed to have found the way and survived, and
from what I’ve heard from people I’ve met who have walked the Camino, it’s the
journey itself - with all its twists and turns/ups and downs - which is the
important thing.
Also, to
be honest, what’s the challenge of hiking 750 kms across Northern Spain
compared to sitting in an intensive care unit watching, waiting, hoping,
praying, over a critically ill newborn? Hiking is a piece of cake - rain or
snow or heat, compared to that experience….
…Let me
quote a certain 11 (!) year old: “You can’t organize the camino, it organizes
you.”…
Following is a forum where one can get input or ask questions…wish I had
more time to explore today, but as my mother used to say, “Always eave
something to come back for.”
http://www.pilgrimage-to-santiago.com/
(Links don’t
work? Try cutting and pasting them!)
·
Saturday, 26 January 2008
More on the Camino de
Santiago de Compostela..
WE
made a quick stop at the new library and explored for the hour we had before
the Habitat for Humanity dedication ceremony that was our destination. I have a stack of novels on my bedside table
and ore books on the bench at my desk so I did not check out any books. On the way out, on a whim, I stopped in the
Friends of the Library used book shop and immediately Shirley MacLaine’s book
“The Camino” came to my attention. I put
down my dollar and began poking through the book.
How
interesting that the idea of walking the Camino de Santiago, an idea which has been
fermenting in my head for several days, was reawakened by a chance encounter
and now today, this rather obscure paperback narrating a mature woman’s trek on
the very same pilgrimage jumps out and begs to be bought!
·
Friday, 25 January 2008
Called AGAIN!
Once
again I have been called for jury duty back in sunny SC. This makes at least FIVE times since February
2002. I reported for selection twice and
spent long hours waiting only to not be selected. The first time I actually got a parking
ticket for saying too long in a parking place – I walked from the courthouse
and watched as the ticket was slipped under my windshield wiper. (To add insult to injury, the small stipend
they offer went to the high school because I was employed there at the time!
I
have not even lived in SC since February 2005, yet I have been summoned more
than FIVE times!. My house sitter,
Gentle-Jim e-mailed me the latest notice.
I will get on the phone tomorrow and explain that I am here in Santa Fe
with AmeriCorps *VISTA, but I maintain a home of record and pay taxes (rather
high taxes in fact) in SC.
Oddly,
Mark has never been summoned.
Watched “Eraserhead”…
I
saw this film about 15 years ago (as part of a college seminar on dreaming) Images
from it have haunted me.
I
did not understand it then and I thought perhaps I had matured and learned
things that would help me fit together the bigger picture.
Wrong. What an odd film. It has a disturbing background soundtrack
that is disconcerting and suits the imagery I guess.
I
am puzzled by the film and at a loss for any really rational interpretation of
the loose story line…it is about sexuality, suicide, despair…but I can draw no
conclusions not contribute any insight into why people give it a 5 star rating
on the NETFLIX site.
I
want my 90 minutes or so back. I could
have washed my hair.
·
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
The small fire banked inside
my soul is sparked.
It
is unexpected and therefore more of a miracle.
An idea fires me up – inside the flames lick me, warm me, inspire me.
The
usual cool, starry night inside me becomes a bright warm place. The fire dances, teases …demands my attention.
My
skin almost burns.
My
thoughts, like moths, fly and flutter, and draw near the light and warmth.
What is all this inspiration?
I
spent much of Tuesday at a recruiting venue in the NM Statehouse. Next to me sat a man who had walked the 500-mile
pilgrimage across Northern Spain along the Camino de Santiago de
Compostela. I spent the day listening
and asking questions and being very grateful for the synchronicity of this
chance encounter.
Now
my senses are raised and I am motivated, inspired and eager to formulate a
plan. I am trying to remain calm- to
allow a plan to unfold. Thirty days in
Northern Spain – walking 16-18 miles each day…I want to experience the walk.
The
seed for this long-held desire has been dormant for a few years, but this
sudden burst of warmth has made the seed sprout and begin its search for true
sunlight and to feel the rains that will nurture it.
This
trek will happen…
·
Sunday, 20 January 2008
A Brazen Blue Bird is Spying
on Me…
I
sit at my laptop here in the kitchen sipping coffee and reading e-mail from
friends and family around the world.
E-mail is such a magical thing.
It opens so many windows into the lives of people I love.
I
am engaged in a reply when I hear a loud thunk.
I turn to the expanse of windows that looks out on the Koi pond. I see a large blue bird looking puzzled (or
dazed). He regroups, regains his dignity
and flies away.
I
return to my tap, tap, tapping with a smile on my face.
A
few moments later my peripheral vision catches a bit of movement outside. I glance at the window and again, I see the
large blue bird. He is investigating the
window. Inside are a collection of about
15 green plants. It appears he can see
the greenery and would like to come inside, out of the cold wintry air.
Soon
a bevy of birds join him. A couple of
the more brave (or more foolish or more curious?) birds peer in at me. They cock their heads and press one bright
eye to the glass for a moment and then hop off to a safer distance.
The
birds continue their window dance in the bright crisp sunlight for about an
hour.
How
amusing they are. (Am I equally amusing
to them?)
How
grateful I am for the world just outside my window.
How
grateful I am for the window other window – the one in front of me. My computer screen fills with small dancing
letters as I share this little story and allows me yet anther view outside my
own experience…
·
Thursday, 17 January 2008
The Days Fly by in a Way they
Never did in Ukraine.
Last
year at this time we were buried under gray skies and cold, cold, cold of the
Ukrainian winter. Without the blessing
of a car or a washing machine and the erratic nature of water and heat due to
the infrastructure challenges in post-Soviet countries, we spent many quiet
hours snuggled on our couch in our one room flat. There was a timeless quality about the
days. They seemed to drift by. One day bled into the next.
Back
in the USA, our lives seem overscheduled.
We seem to have little time to do the things we want to do. Despite all the usual conveniences, designed
to make life easier, the to-do list never gets shorter. We rise earlier, we stay up later.
How
is that? Why is that?
I
have learned over the years, how to say NO to things that, while worthwhile,
may not fit into my life at the moment.
It
is more than the actual agenda of life; it is more about the attitude toward
life. Our culture shapes us and, in my
experience, it seems as though in the USA, our value is measured by how “busy”
we are.
This
is an off the cuff observation. No
research supports it (as far as I know).
This is my disclaimer. I am just
thinking-aloud, through my fingers…
·
Thursday, 10 January 2008
My
Package Finally Arrived!
When
I returned from my early morning dog walk, I saw the package leaning against
the gate, inside the fence. I must have
missed seeing the package on my way out, but there it was. My pace quickened,
despite the ice under my feet.
I
was as delighted as a kid to see that package.
I
had a momentary flash to a time decades ago when my (then) young son waited
weeks and weeks and weeks for a delayed Christmas gift. Every day as Caleb slammed the door behind
him when he rushed in from school he asked, “Is it here yet? Is it finally here?”
It
was quite a relief when that long-ago package finally arrived. And even more of
a relief when the contents proved as satisfying to Caleb as he dreamed it would
be.
I
happily grabbed my package. With Zia-dog
tugging me onward and the package in my other arm, I made my way up the
precarious, icy road to the house.
Once
in the cozy kitchen I sat down on the bench by the fire and ripped open my
belated Christmas gift to myself.
Simple
Pleasures - The Happy-Pants-Dance!
There
they were - brand new jeans – black jeans!
In
moments I stripped off my ratty dog-walking jeans and slipped on the new black
jeans.
They
fit like a glove.
I
felt like doing a little dance.
I
did a little dance. I did the
happy-pants-dance!
The
dog barked and jumped around, sliding on the kitchen floor. I laughed.
Who
knew that this gift to myself would please me so much! They must be magic pants!
·
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
What Will Be Your Life Song
This Year?
Yesterday
I read an article that asked the question: what will your life song be this
year?
The
second question follows.
What Can You Celebrate in
Your Life Today?
·
Sunday, 6 January 2008
I’ve Been Tagged…
My
oldest nephew (the Hippie-Boy himself) sent this to me a while back (6 weeks or
more…Yikes!)
See his delightful answers at:
http://radloffthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/11/tagged-in-good-way.html
Look
for the 14 Nov 2007 post, labeled I've been tagged
I
impetuously punched out my answers in the late-night hours and then promptly
forgot about this exercise until today.
Guess it is time to send it on…I will not go back and edit. If I did, it would never be shared…but I must
say, my answers would likely vary a bit from day to day. Why?
Because I am inconsistent…no…(well maybe) but because life is not
static…life is dynamic, always changing and offering us new opportunities and
challenges, unexpected wisdom and sudden grace…can’t edit life or you never get
around to living….
Try
this exercise…
So
now, I will hit send…Have fun...life is good…
__________________________________
I've been
tagged...
I've
been tagged to write about certain topics in blocks of eight.
Eight Passions In My Life
1.
My spouse…where would I be, who would I be, without this wonderful
relationship with another human being?
I cannot imagine how Spartan my life would have been without my
delightful husband, my best friend, m y companion, my alter-ego…
2.
Animals. They keep us
human. We feed them and take care of
them, but they love us so much. Just
look into the eyes of a dog or a cat and see absolute trust, love, humility,
and see how passionate they are…they roll, run, leap, and play - they express
their joy….they live in the now. We can
learn so much from them.
3.
Books….reading…what would
the world be like without books…
4.
Words…whispered words, sweet nothings, confessions, stories,
poetry, songs, novels, on and on…where would we be without this constant,
delightful interplay…whispers in one another seas, nonsense words to babies,
encouragement from a cheering crowd…sweet, sweet nothings, blogs, rants and
rages…scripts, obituaries, love letters, movies, poem and prayers and promise
and things that we believe in…(Oh dear, I am lapsing into a John Denver lyric!)
5.
Travel. gotta see it all, gotta try on feelings and cultures and
try to understand…nothing better than a road trip, ‘cept maybe the pleasure of
exploring a foreign city admiring the architecture and watching the sun going
down…
6.
Music is in the background of life…it enhances everything. It is celebration and gratitude and prayer…
7.
Camping and sitting by the fire – sooooo elemental and so
centering and yet, primal. Close your
eyes…hear the crickets, feel the heat?
8.
Things of the spirit. I
find myself looking beyond the limitations of fading, finite forms to the
things that are essential and real…This is a legacy from my parents who
cultivated and nurtured this idea in me.
It frees me from much of the mortal dream – the limitations of time and
money and material things…grief….it frees me to find beauty and joy and to
share gratitude.
Eight Things to Do Before I Die
1.
Walk the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain
2.
Go to Polar Bear Camp in Churchill Canada
3.
Write a novel, even if it s not published…it is the process, not
the destination..
4.
Sing, dance and spend time in the hammock with a book, whenever
I get a chance
5.
Plant trees - real ones
and metaphorical ones (Read “The Man Who Planted Trees” and “Joy of Man’s
Desiring” by Jean Giono
6.
Cultivate joy, nurture, share, remain enthusiastic and receptive
…keep moving forward with awe and a sense of adventure…
7.
Keep working on #6
8.
Live more spiritually…a day by day by day process
Eight Things I Often Say
1.
“Oh, how fun!”…Was it fun?
Fun seems to pop up in y conversations as if it is the most important
quality we can express…well, maybe it is!
Former Communists in Crimea did not really understand my middleclass,
American fixation on fun…but I kept trying to teach them!
2.
“Life is good.” It is
good. It bears repeating.
3.
“I am grateful for ______.”
(Fill in the blank)…I mean it.
The universe gives us sooo much and still so many people fixate o the
bad…they whine, complain. I have cultivated
an attitude of gratitude. Yep, I am
grateful and in a world of whiny, unhappy people, I am grateful to be grateful.
4.
“More later…” Yep there
is always sooooo much stuff to share (yeah: fun stuff and stuff I am grateful
for more adventures, more ideas, more funny stiff, and more good stiff…)
5.
“People act from their highest sense of right” – I believe this
and I keep it in mind when I feel unforgiving, resentful or suspicious…it gives
me perspective…
6.
“It is hard work to be polite and pleasant all day –anybody can
be a jerk!” I think people need to be
kind to one another…so, be the change you want to see (re: Gandhi)
7.
“Look beyond fading finite forms…”…A Mary Baker Eddy (CS)
quote…too often we get bogged down in the mortal lies and dreams, the miasma of
what humans think is true. We fail to se
the Truth – that Life is spiritual and so are we. We are not limited mortals struggling to
survive – we are expressions of Divine Life, Truth and Love…
8.
God bye…and hello. I’ve
moved a lot, but I carry my friends with me in my heart and they continue to
inform me and my choices as I make m way through the joys and challenges of
life.
Eight Books I Read Recently
1.
“The Man Who Planted Trees”….read it again and now am re-reading
“Joy of Man’s Desiring”….Google it and read it!
And everything else the author wrote!
2.
Amy Tan’s latest novel, “Saving Fish from Drowning” – I like her
style…but not this book so much.
3.
“Cesar’s Way” by Cesar Milan.
T is about learning to feel the energy that animals communicate with…The
Dog Whisperer, as CM is called, has an amazing life and demonstrates how one
can succeed ad contribute in unexpected ways.
4.
My mind goes blank…since returning to USA I have been around
people almost 24/7 and cannot steal away to indulge in pleasure reading. I am, engaged in professional reading –
management, recruiting, retention, etc…as I get up to speed for my next year as
a Recruitment Consultant for a literacy coalition…I am still drawn to things Russian (and
Ukrainian)…my old favorite books call out to me from the boxes where they have
patiently waited for the past 3 years…
5.
I spent the holidays reading through my wonderful collection of
obscure children’s holiday books – great pictures and delightful stories. I perched by the fireplace in the kitchen and
sipped tea as I flipped through the pages of about thirty kid’s books. Names?
Anther time… (FYI: I collect children’s picture books…many people do not
know that about me.)
6.
Read Elie Weisel, Bulgokov, Proust, Hemingway, John Irving, Ann
Tyler…
Eight Songs that Mean Something To Me
1.
Dan Fogelberg’s “Leader of the Band"…makes me teary…“
2.
“Ain't nothin’ gonna break my stride, oh no, I gotta keep on
movin’….” Somehow I love that song…Who
wrote it? Who sings it? Why does it stay in my head?
3.
Afternoon Delight...another sloppy, sappy song….but hey…it makes
me happy and even after all these years there’s nothing like fireworks to make
me smile…Mark used to play it and dedicate it to me when he was DJ – also
played “Witchy Woman”….
4.
Roberta Flack’s “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”….married my
high school sweetheart …what can I say.
He used to sing that song to me, looooong before Roberta Flack got a
hold of it.
5.
Blackbird Singin’ in the Dead of Night”…gotta fly even when our
wings are broken and bruised…
6.
Most any Beatles song…
7.
Several sloppy John Denver songs…
8.
Melanie…yep, Melanie songs….Hey, this is MY list!
9.
Carole King stuff – loooooved the “Tapestry” collection ….Oh,
dear, I am off and running…I could fill a book with titles and snatches of
lyrics…they bring back memories…I should hit delete and start over on
this…Elton, John…Queen, Kansas, Meatloaf, Byrds,...musicals…all those great
musicals…OK…gotta go…more later… 8-)
Eight Qualities I Look For in a Friend
1.
A sense of joy and abundance.
Gotta believe all things are possible and friends have to laugh fully
and often...at themselves, at me and at life in general. (I don’t tolerate toxic people or whiners or
gossips…but I am polite.)
2.
Integrity – be who you are all the time and be proud of who you
are! (Even if who you are is wishy-washy!)
3.
Kindness is very important – My Mom was kind and seldom said
anything bad about anyone…a mark of integrity and maybe loyalty, but always
kind…I want to be like her and I want friends to be like her! (But, she had a wicked good sense of humor –
no boring Pollyanna!)
4.
Humor and wit help navigate life and relationships (see #3)
5.
Don’t take themselves too seriously…willing to grow, open to
change, and change and admit mistakes…(I have a hard time with complacent
people)
6.
Non-judgmental…people who are comfortable in their own skins
7.
Willing to take a risk…
8.
Forgiving and loyal – willing to take a stand for another or
support them even when you don’t agree.
Friendship is not for the weak or uncommitted!
9.
Willing to take a risk…content is good, but not complacency
(sometimes it’s = to
money/security!) Can’t live on
fear…complacency is a curse and a prison…break free while there is time!
Eight People I'm Passing This On To
1.
Marty, my lifelong friend who encourages and motivates me and
took care f me when I needed care….
2.
House-sitter Jim, who is such a good person. He shows up like magic when you need
him… 8-)
3.
Solange, who likes to think about life and shares a history in
Camelot with me
4.
Carol, who has sardonic wit and will make me laugh…she’s known
me forever…
5.
My baby girl…OK, she’s a grown woman and a wonderful human
being…I am so lucky to have her in my life…
6.
Janeen, my oldest sister…she will think and write and laugh and
share…a musician…Sisters are great…
7.
Rosemary, my other sister…the gentle spirit with the firm
backbone…a reader and dancer…that says a lot about here…I repeat, sisters are
great..
8.
My spouse…he is an authentic person, a velveteen rabbit whose
fur has been rubbed off, a little prince who calls me his rose…my lover, my
companion, my friend.
- Thursday,
3 January 2008
Morning
Reverie
At sunrise, the world is quiet and the light is ethereal. This time of year the air crackles. Smoke rises from many houses across the
valley. The smell of pinion burning
tickles my nose. The snow on the
mountains glistens as the sunrise spills across it.
What a privileged it is to watch a baby-day being
born.
As Zia and I walk past the Jeep, a large bird wings
out the open windows. I am not sure who
was most startled by this.
We pause and watch the bird settled in the tree
above us. Zia, cocks her head, puzzled
and interested in the bird. The bird
stares down at us.
I wonder if the bird frequents the shelter of the
Jeep on a regular basis.
I wonder what Zia is wondering.
After a few moments, the cold drives me indoors to
sip hot coffee by the fire. And to say a
little prayer of gratitude for the start of another beautiful day..
- Wednesday,
2 January 2008
The thumb on my left hand gets numb these
days.
I hold the leash in that hand so my thumb is
generally immobile during the morning dog walk.
When I come indoors and happily warm myself by the fire, my thumb
tingles and feels as if hot needles are being poked into it.
My frostbite symptoms pale compared to my dog
obedience challenges. Miss Zia is a
delinquent! Yes, she is well-mannered
around the house and even on urban walks (generally) and around the yard, but
the morning dog walk has almost ceased to be the pleasure it should be.
Despite the chilling temps (10 degrees this AM) I
often find myself sweating from the effort of controlling my exuberant
three-legged, gazelle of a dog. I scramble along, avoiding yucca plants and
ice, holding on to the leash with both hands.
She is powerful and has a personal agenda, which I
have yet to decipher.
She lopes along, oblivious of me or the leash.
Sometimes she yelps as she runs, sounding as if she
has been hit by a car. It is a frightening sound.
This is not a pleasure.
It is predicament.
I have read and read and read and tried several
techniques, with small successes. But I
still find myself holding on for dear life as Zia roars off ahead of me,
dragging me behind.
Miss Zia and I Go to College.
In February we begin our higher education. We will
attend a weekly dog training (or is it human training?) class. For thirteen weeks we will mingle with a pack
of other canines and their human companions.
One of us is bound to learn something!
Meanwhile, this obsessive doggie behavior keeps my
mind off the cold and my frostbitten thumb.
Why Does
this Day Seem Soooooo Long?
I am at work, counting the hours till I can leave
for the day.
I am restless and unfocused. I have eaten too much candy and sipped too
much coffee, but I was restless and unfocused before I overindulged.
I have completed nothing today.
For a couple hours I was engaged in a small graphics
project. I set out to design some simple
bookmarks to include in recruiting packages.
I hit a wall when I tried to print them.
They look fine in the print preview mode, but they morph significantly
when I see them on paper.
After a couple hours wrestling unsuccessfully with
that issue, I decided to put the project aside.
It has been downhill since then.
A Belated Christmas Gift
from my Nephew, Family and Friends
The other day I sat down with my usual cup of coffee
to read my e-mail and found a wonderful and unexpected gift. My oldest nephew sent me a query, which
reached out and grabbed my heart.
I stared at the screen, tears welling in my eyes,
and read his gentle note. I could
describe it, but I will just paste it here.
My nephew’s note follows:
Hi
Aunt V.
I have a thought. (I have to be careful not to spook it -- it's in an unusual
place. My head.) Michelle S. and I were thinking of sending this out to Caleb's
family and friends, but we thought we'd ask you first... What do you think? (I
have a donation page set up already, and Michelle will do the same on her blog
as well.)
-------------------
Hi everyone.
I stumbled on something kinda neat... In Ohio there's a "Bikers' Memorial
Wall," and I thought it would be nice to have Caleb's name added. It costs
$150 to have a name added, but all proceeds go to a scholarship fund. I'm
hoping if we can get fifteen people to donate ten bucks each, we can get
Caleb's name etched on the wall...
You can learn more and donate a few dollars if you wish at http://www.radloffs.net/memorialwall
Chris
------------------
http://www.hippieboydesign.com
http://www.nwiaalr.com
http://www.independentriderscc.com
http://www.siouxlandsleepout.com
Northwest Iowa ALR Vice Prez
Member PGR, VROC #6441, IRCC
Keeping alive the sweet spirit of our son, Caleb J.
Pulver (Feb 1976-Feb 2002),…now that is truly a Christmas gift.
There are no words.
Even now, days after the initial e-mail, I find myself teary eyed and
unable to find words for this gentle act.
I can only say thank you…and it is a prayer of
thanks.
·
Tuesday, 1 January 2008 – New Year’s Day!
E-Mail Excerpts…
Our New Years Eve? We sat by the
fireplace, ate wonderful gorgonzola cheese, sausage, peasant bread and sipped
Russian vodka (homesick for Ukraine) while we watched and nearly choked
laughing at a bootleg copy of "Hairspray"....what a riot! We
also watched "Enchanted"...not great, but fun. I dozed between
11 PM and midnight (vodka...) but caught glimpses of Dick Clark - he finally
got old! His voice is old and he looks like he is wearing a Dick Clark
mask...scary. Outside, the were some fireworks at midnight,
but pretty quiet...the stars are so bright and clear here so close to heaven...
This AM - Mark's tasty scones by the fire in the kitchen...the Rose Bowl parade
is on...the organ donor float was amazing and we were choked up by it... (Thanks
Christopher for your project...) I have been reading Ukraine PCVs blogs
this AM (see links below)..love the one about getting stuck in the
elevator! ...
Time to get dressed and walk the pup...it is bright and brisk...beautiful
day. You could ice skate on the koi pond today...clear ice and flat. We
should try out the hot tub one of these days...I am off to watch the Rose Bowl
parade - Mom always wanted to go see it live...maybe someday I will do
that! 8-)
More later...life is good. (Scroll down for some quotes and a couple blogs that
are fun!)
Ginn
Sipping Hot Coffee on a Cold New Years Day
_________________________________________________________________________
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see
when you take your eyes off your goal. ”
Henry Ford (1863-1953) founder of Ford Motor Company
Gratitude is the
intention to count-your-blessings every day, every minute, while avoiding,
whenever possible, the belief that you need or deserve different circumstances.
- Timothy Miller
How To Want What You Have
"When man is
governed by God, the ever-present Mind who understands all things, man knows
that with God all things are possible."
-From Science and Health
by Mary Baker Eddy
180:25-27
![[]](January%202008_files/image002.gif){kind=small}
And finally, a couple blog links...visit these sites for some interesting
reads…
http://37days.typepad.com/37days/2007/05/eat_breakfast_o.html
Eat Breakfast on a Lake...
A
toast to all who have taken a journey of a lifetime
By Pedro Khoury My mom did not
want me to join Peace Corps. Going against the will of my family made my
decision even harder, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I left to Ukraine
and about five months later I called my mother. ... LatinosNJ
- http://blog.latinosnj.com
You
would think I would learn but noooooo
By Shannon Z.(Shannon Z.) And
how would I make the explosion go out of the elevator instead of in and ending
up as Peace corps puree? Don’t be an idiot Shannon, it’s fizzy water,
not TNT, the worst you could do is soak yourself and put your eye out with a
flying ... The chaos that is Shannon -
http://zimmermanzone.blogspot.com/
__________________________
Resolving
to Resolve or to be Resolute..Resolutions…
Often my New Years Day is a quiet time. I think about the magic of a new year
stretching out in front of me like a clean white chenille bedspread. I can almost smell the fresh scent, the
newness as it unfolds.
I like to look at my calendar and think about what
lies ahead…make small plans and mark important dates.
This year I want to choose a word to carry in my
heart. This word will guide my
consciousness and lead me down new paths.
In the past certain words have carried me along:
gratitude, abundance, joy, complacency, integrity, commitment, openness, faith,
and risk.
I am waiting for a word to choose me.
I am flirting with some words. Creativity, consciousness, listening,
ritual/tradition, order, yes, mastery, kindness,
__________________________________________________________________________
ab
TO
READ DECEMBER POSTS OR OTHER, OLDER ENTRIES,
RETURN
TO THE ARCHIVES ON THE LEFT.
FYI:
If you want to read about our
Peace
Corps Ukraine adventures,
start
with January 2005 - May 2007.
Now
we are in AmeriCorps/VISTA adventures
Right
here in Santa Fe, in the USA!
Life
is good!
ab