these are a few of my favourite things this summer...

☀The 4th of July (Independence Day)  In STL it has been SUPER hot and really dry. So for safety reasons ... NO personal fireworks could be lit off this year. sigh. I love buying fireworks and lighting them off - then going to see a huge display somewhere.  Last yr I paid $10 for a "chinese lantern" and everyone said "waste of money...don't get it" and HA! it was the COOLEST of all.  I even thought about getting some anyway and lighting them off.  Cause you know, starting your neighbors roof on fire, or the cops catching you and you paying $500....well, maybe it's NOT worth it.  ESP when you look at the wild fires now in Colorado. TERRIBLE.  So, the 4th was sorta a bummer as I saw NO fireworks this yr and missed (1 of my) FAVE bands HEART. They played for FREE at our downtown fair. God knows how those bands can play in the heat. I DID get to go to a cute house in the woods on a lake, and despite the sweltering heat, it was pretty fun.

☀Gavin DeGraw CD - SWEETER.  I LOVE this whole entire Cd.  Well, all 10 songs.  Come on, he couldn’t have found another 2-3 songs?  10 songs is not enough and I’m always disapointed when bands come out with only 10 songs on a new album. BUT, besides that...it's a definite 10

☀Rufus Wainwright's new CD!!! This pretty much says it all ... "Rufus Wainwright's new album  
Out of the Game is widely being hailed as the Canadian singer's pop masterpiece, and boasts a distinct '70s-influenced yacht rock vibe that could have come straight out of Laurel Canyon."
By Laura Ferreiro

☀Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen - ahhhh, that wonderful escape you get from a really, really GOOD book. The ones you can't put down, and the closer you get to the end - the slower you (try) to read. Cause you just can't imagine the story ending and people you "know" and love (and hate) ending.  If you like circus life or elephants...and a great love story - then read this book.

☀The Book of Mormon [HELLO, we would like to share with you this....MOST AMAZING MUSICAL]  It's coming to St Louis to the Fabulous Fox next season and is the biggest.thing.ever. Trey Parker and Matt Stone - the South Park guys teamed up with the Avenue Q guy Robert Lopez & created THIS musical.

The St. Louis, Missouri song by JEWEL. On an acoustic tour a few yrs back, she made up an impromtu song about each city she played.  I love her, and a few weeks ago a random guy said to me "hey, you look just like Jewel"  awwwwww, that made me super happy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLctYPM-mgg

Plus, a bunch of small stuff: cold desserts (key lime pie) ♥ peaches (peeled and sliced w/ sugar)  ♥ free seats at The Muny on a lovely summer nite (you know, when it's not a sticky-humid STL nite) ♥ the neighborhood pool (tho I've hardly been down this summer) ♥ my tomato plants (which all said tom. have been eaten by rabbits) ♥ washing the car w/ Alex (good old-fashioned fun) ♥ ice-cream trucks ♥ farmers markets  
♥ daylight til 8-ish!!  And always remember ...

"every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day." ~unknown

Here are a few of my fave pics of 'A' from a few yrs ago (photos: Carey Paul)

Flower Power

I found a whole new meaning to the phrase "flower power"  I love flowers and summer always reminds me of flowers!  Planting them and taking care of them (which pretty much just means watering) is so relaxing and rewarding - and easy.  I also like picking the dead flowers from the live plants (my OCD helps with this)! My grandpa told me years ago that this will help the new flowers flourish, cause the dead ones take nutrients away from the live ones.  And, ahhhh - you always have beautiful, colorful flowers to look at. In your garden, the yard or different pots. Or in a vase inside from flowers you picked in your yard. 2 yrs ago, I started buying more perenials (the flowers that come back every year) and it’s so nice to see them start blooming and think “oh, yeah, I forgot I planted those...”  plus it saves money. A link to Bach's website is below.

Recently I stumbled upon BACH® FLOWER REMEDIES and love the concept. Here is some info. It’s even safe for pets & plants!!

The 7 Bach® Flower Groups

The original Bach® Flower Remedies is a system of 38 flower remedies that correct emotional imbalances - negative emotions are replaced with positive.

The Bach® Flower Remedies are 100% safe and natural and work in conjunction with herbs, homeopathy and medications.  They are safe for everyone, including children, pregnant women, pets, elderly and even plants.

“The cause of all our troubles is self and separateness and this vanishes as soon as Love and the great knowledge of Unity become part of our natures.”   -Dr Edward Bach 

Dr. Bach separated the Bach Flower Remedies into 7 emotional groups.

The groups make it easier for us to separate the Bach Flower Remedies into feelings, such as, fear, despair, loneliness, uncertainty etc. We can ask ourselves, how do I feel? Do I feel fear? What kind of fear? Or I feel despair, what kind of despair?

The Bach Flower Remedies® are so simple to use that no science, no knowledge is necessary apart from the simple method described above.           

Fear.
Uncertainty.
Insufficient interest in present circumstances.
Loneliness.
Over-sensitivity to influences and ideas.
Despondency or Despair.
Over-care for welfare of others.

http://bachflower.com/index.html

WHAT!? Tomorrow is already Lent

So, January & February kinda ran together somehow.  2011:  I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted to last year, hit some bumps in the road, didn’t go on a ‘real’ vacation, had to put my beloved dog (Remy) to sleep in Sept. It was beyond sad, he was a rescue dog & I LUVED him. Wasted more money on stupid tickets!   A few highlights: got to see Tori Amos in Chicago (and no that doesn’t count as a real vaca) haven’t seen her in over 10 yrs. Discovered a famous shine of Our Lady of Guadalupe that I never knew about (anyone who knows me, knows I love the Virgin Mary)  Bonus- we happened to be there on the actual Feast Day of Guadalupe.  AMAZING! Thousands of (mostly) Mexicans paying tribute to Mary, flowers & roses EVERYWHERE. 

I Shot a Gun and I Liked It!  Went to an outdoor shooting range for the 1st time - Bam + Bam = FUN!!  If you've ever wanted to shoot a gun, do it.  Met MV - my 1st relationship since getting divorced. It lasted for 9 months and it was so fun  :))

And remembered .... that there’s always gonna be good AND bad  - and
realized I can do alot more of the ‘hard’ stuff than I thought I could.

Now ... HERE’S TO 2012!!!!  and how the heck is it already Feb 22?  Who's ready for Lent?  I am - mostly cause I like a challenge, and although I'm not overly "religious" I love all my Catholic traditions....and my Buddhist ones :)  Some people think its wrong, but for ME  it's the perfect spiritual balance.  Here's a pic of 2 wonderful Holy and compassionate people. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  I love the Archbishop's quote: 'He has no army, he cannot command his people with guns and he's not a separatist.' South African anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu said these words to the Chinese while referring to Tibetan spiritual leader and fellow Nobel laureate the Dalai Lama here on Friday.

Falalalala-lalalala

Christmas trees, Christmas music, Christmas cookies, Christmas presents, Christmas lights, and finally - the ‘reason-for-the-season’ Christmas Day. 

I hope we aren’t all slowly diminishing into these politically correct beings who can’t risk offending a few people by saying  “Merry Christmas”  I don't know ANY Jewish, athiest, non-religious people who get offended by it at all?  My good friend (I don't think she even believes in God) sent out cards that say "Merry Christmas"   And what about Christmas songs.  Maybe we should re-title a few....you know,  before they get banned.

• I’ll have a blue WINTER without you
• Have yourself a merry little WINTER
• I’m dreaming of a white WINTER
• Oh, WINTER tree, oh WINTER tree.....
• WINTERTIME is here (oh, and we better re-name the classic...A Charlie Brown WINTER)

And does that Nativity manger in front of the fire house ‘reallllly’ bother you?  Really!  Well, you better complain to city hall and demand it be taken down.  'Cause ya know.... that baby lying there in the hay with his father and virgin mother - is a pretty offensive scene (those sheep are kinda cute, though...aren’ t they)   I wonder if these people are also offended by all the great art (featuring that baby all grown up - and seen half naked for God’s sake) hanging in famous museums all over the world?  Can’t they just see the history, culture, a story....without having to ‘think’ they are being forced to belive this baby Jesus is THEIR Savior.

If you ask the very controversial piano goddess Tori Amos, she’ll say: ”I really, really love Christ, but I’m not a Christian.  What Jesus was really saying was “It is within you.” There are things that I would disagree with Jesus about—and I feel really good about that. That’s how it should be. Respect him to go his way and I’ll do my thing. I mean, if you want to go and sit out in the desert for forty days, knock yourself out. But I’m going to go and get some pizza. And I’m not less of a person for it.”   

Wow - I bet her minister father just loves this : )

Well, MARY Christmas, which is my way of saying it - cause I adore the Virgin Mary.  And I do hope that none of what I wrote offends anyone.  I do believe people have a right to their opinions and religion.  But I am being cynical and venting on something that “I” think is trivial.
Here are a few Christmas hi-lites of 2011

• O.M.G. photo of the year?  This takes the phrase "White Trash Christmas" to a whole new level.

• Watching ‘The Grinch’  I was obsessed with this movie growing up.  I liked the who people, but were scared of them at the same time.  And, oh did I ever feel sorry for Max, the Grinch's dog.

• Can I actually be a little (alot) jealous of this creative, funky christmas tree book that some random person out there made.  Why, yes I can.  (from Absolutely Madness)

• Yay that Jon Bon Jovi’s death was a hoax!  He musta been “Livin’ On a Prayer”

• And, YAY that Kim Jun Il’s wasn’t a hoax, cause he gives “Love a Bad Name” - and now he’s been “Shot Thru the Heart”

• TRADITIONS: making cookies with my mom, sister and niece - getting a real Christmas tree - making at least 1 homemade present - getting the perfect card photo with Alex and the dogs.  Graditude. You just gotta stop and run thru that list in your head, of all the good stuff.

WHAT I’m Thankful for - and what I’m NOT

For some reason I was ”sorta” ready to get back to work the day after TG. It’s probably because I do good with routine and following a schedule. This is not to say I have conquered being a major procrastinator and am always late. sigh.  Being off for 4 days was lovely and I had the best weekend. So it’s kinda like an early New Years...I feel motivated, happy and organized.

And, December 1st is this week. I am ready! The start of the holidays, Christmas music, lights, cookies, making crafty stuff (my Mary 2011 card) and the tradition of Alex and me getting a real tree...usually in the cold at the boy scout lot.

 














So I’m thankful for:
• my cute new dog, Ash (we got her in Oct)
• the fact that Jim C (my ex) and I get along and be cool with each other.
• my son who is a wild cute little video gamer - yet, is wise beyond his years & just...gets it.  Tho, he is a bit sensitive - yeah, like me!  What kid lists the movie “The Pianist” as 1 of his faves since he was 8 or 9? and knows all the words to the Evita soundtrack.
• The fact that I have tix to TORI piano-songwriting-goddess AMOS in Chicago!  and love her, and haven’t seen her in like 8 yrs, in fact the last time was at the Fabulous Fox - 2nd row dead center.


And what I’m not. Yes, I’m listing some negatives. cause it’s all a work in progress. everyday. never perfect. and never will be. But I’ll always have a ton of room for gratitude.
• my cute dog pees in the house.
• my sugar addiction. I eat too much sugar.  And I love it. and prob always will.
• I’m still too sensitive...and still working on my overanalyzing. thx adhd.
• still am not offically ”working out” blah. Hate being lazy.
• stay up too late, then sleep in and don’t ever get to work early, which means I stay later.

 

The LOTUS Flower

Wow - I have not blogged in forever, since MAY!  So, I am gonna start with the Lotus Flower.  I am fascinated by the Lotus flower.  I want to be like this symbol of enlightment.  How amazing that this flower has appeared in mythology and religion for thousands of years from Egypt to India to Asia.  I really feel a connection to Buddhism and I wonder if I was somehow connected to it in a past life.

The Lotus Flower grows up through the mud in swamps and ponds and produces a beautiful and fragrant flower. The flower is big, around 8-12 inches in diameter, and is open for only 3 days. Then each petal falls silently into the water, one by one, over a short period.  It opens and blooms at dawn, then closes and returns to the darkness at dusk.

The Lotus represents the Higher, Divine Self. As harsh and dark as the world 

can be, each of us is still connected with our Greater, Sacred Self. This thought 

is highlighted in Buddhism. Each person has the ability to reach their full potential, and therefore, "bloom" in the midst of the muck.

The Lotus also represents purity, because the mud of the swamp does not effect its beauty. The blooming in the morning and folding in at dusk represent rebirth and regeneration. The Chakras of the body are all represented with a 

different Lotus flower per chakra. (your Chakras are so interesting, 

one of my older posts has more on them)

"Buddhism explores how to transcend the troubles of human existence, to leave behind the sea of pain, the house of fire. Becoming Buddha-like is the highest ideal. Out of the muddy water the lotus springs forth beautiful blooms, much as Buddhas free themselves from worldly worries. "

-Von Baeyer

"You yourself are the water, You yourself are the fish, and You yourself are the net. You yourself cast the net, and You yourself are the bait. You yourself are the 

Lotus, unaffected and still brightly-colored."

-Sri Guru Granth Sahib

focusing...assuming...controlling

Ask yourself this question:

What assumption am I making,
That I'm not aware I'm making,
That gives me what I see?

And when you have an answer to that question,
ask yourself this one:

What might I now invent,
That I haven't yet invented,
That would give me other choices?

You cannot control everything that will happen today. 

But you can completely control the person you will be.

I'm trying to remember where I stumbled upon this wonderful little saying (above), but it was definitely meant for me to read!  This is a huge issue for me. I am so good at assuming, analyzing and worrying.  I need this to be my new mantra, to stop every day and read it slowly, like 3 times...or 5 or 10!  I want to focus and 'live in the moment.'  I picked the illustration above because it's such a calming image. It's from a children's book that me and Alex (my son) LOVED! "The Little Island" by Margaret Wise Brown (illustration: Leonard Weisgard).  The story is about a cat who goes to an island on a boat, and learns that the island is much more than it seems (he learns this from a fish). The pages describing the cat's journey to knowledge are magical, and so are the illustrations. My son (who is 9) tells me he is too old for this book now  ha! (but I know he still likes it)

I also recently came across this great blog by Leo Babuata.  He is all about - SIMPLICITY and FOCUSING. His writing is simple and to-the-point.  Instead of mulit-tasking, he says "single" task. (huh?!)   He also talks about how we are constantly plugged in, something I totally agree with (as I sit here blogging and probably checking twitter & facebook next :))   Here is a sample..."Our ability to focus will allow us to create in ways that perhaps we haven’t in years. It’ll allow us to slow down and find peace of mind. It’ll allow us to simplify and focus on less — on the essential things, the things that matter most. And in doing so, we’ll learn to focus on smaller things. This will transform our relationship with the world. It’s not that “less is more”, but “less is better”.  You can download a FREE mini version of his book FOCUS below.

http://focusmanifesto.com/