Good Day

"Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day."
No, I am not turning into Pollyanna! I am just actively, consciously trying to work on finding some good in the day. I want to be that person who can see beyond the tangled mess of the moment and see the good that still exists. Cup half full...cup half empty...either way, I want to see that the cup is actually a pretty glass with no cracks! I do not preach this from the mountain top of righteousness. Rather, I put it out there for the people in my life to help me see the good. We help each other. We all win.
Sounds like a good day!

A Beautiful Mess

One of my favorite lines is from the movie, "Parenthood" with Steve Martin & Mary Steenburgen. The husband & wife are having a fight about their lives and she yells, "Yes, life is messy and I wouldn't have it any other way!" Truth is, it is messy. Roofs leak, people get sick, payments are due, kids forget homework, the laundry piles up, and on and on and on.
The trick is remembering the second part of the message ~ and it is also "oh so beautiful". At times, for me, seeing the beautiful in the mess is nearly impossible. I see the dishes in the sink, not the delicious meal we ate on them. I see when people have hurt and disappointed me and forget to notice when they delight me.
I need to remember this beautiful mess of my life and be grateful for it! Work in  progress...

Grammar Nazi

OK, I admit it, I am a Grammar Nazi. It takes every ounce of my energy not to correct people's English! When my kids were growing up, we were driving in the car once and my son said to a friend, "You'll have to excuse my mom. She corrects everyone's grammar." And I did!! The result is, my kids have excellent grammar. They speak well (not "good"). It does matter! I have met many high level executives who spoke so poorly (not poor, it's an adverb!!) that it takes away from what they are trying to say.
What has happened to our schools that they cannot teach proper English? I get crazy seeing people use the apostrophe incorrectly. Often they mean plural, not possessive. "Wacky Mom's"....Wacky Mom's WHAT?!?! You meant to say, Wacky Moms (plural)! Some things cannot be corrected by a computer. You actually have to know what you are trying to say to get it right.
Another pet peeve ~ "Where's it at???" "Where is it?" is the correct way to say it. Don't leave that preposition hanging at the end!!!
Small things with big impact! We cannot change the world by changing the adults. We change the world by changing our children. Don't forget to correct their (not there or they're) English. I promise it won't ruin their fragile self esteem. It just might make them better people!
Soapbox now put away...thanks for listening to the tirade!!

Gettin' Crafty

 We haven't put water in this fountain out front for over a decade. I put bird seed in it for a while til my husband said, "No more!! There is bird poop all over and it is making tons of weeds!" There was also a cat that was stalking the birds who tried to feed there. Not a pretty ending for one, let me tell you! Then I saw a photo of an old bird bath filled with succulents and I KNEW I had to duplicate it. I love the result and it didn't cost me a penny! That's the beauty of succulents. You can break off and borrow from plants you already have to make new arrangements. Reduce, renew, recycle! It is right outside the dining room window and I get to look out each morning and appreciate its beauty.

I am happiest when I am busy and being creative.

I Love What I Do

 I was privileged last night to coordinate a 50th wedding anniversary party at the beautiful venue called "The Villa". Here is the entrance to this amazing courtyard and house.

 We worked with a gold theme for the 50th and carried it throughout including the gold chargers and the gold manzanita trees sprinkled with orchids for centerpieces.

 To me, what really makes a party memorable is to bring in special touches that reflect the couple, the event, the theme, etc. We decorated each room of the house with family photos, chalkboards with sayings about marriage, and even the couple's own golf clubs in the living room.

 Their first date was at a soda fountain for a Coke, so we greeted guests with a vintage Coke cooler filled with old fashioned bottled Coke. Did you know you know you can buy these little bottles at Target? Thanks for the tip, EB!

Additions to the bathroom included black & white photos of the couple, monogrammed hand towels, moss covered initials hanging from hooks and floating candles.
There were many other special touches, like photo pillows on the outside benches, over 100 votive candles throughout the house, chocolate "50" suckers for guests as their take-home treat and a huge chalkboard with "fun facts" about the couple ~ how they met, first date, etc.
It was a lot of work. I was on my feet for 10.5 hours yesterday. I feel so lucky to be creative, make people smile AND get paid for it!!

All Black

This may not bring a smile to your face, but it did to mine! The heat is killing me and my running routine. I pray for cooler days, or at least cooler mornings or evenings so I can get the shoes on the pavement. More miles = less crabby. It's just that simple!

Ashes to Ashes, but Where??

Recently, the conversation turned to where we would like our ashes scattered. At first, I said, "Nordstrom dressing room #2." Actually, that is the me I used to be, not the me I am today. I rarely shop anymore and only if it is for something specific, not sport. Age has finally shown me that buying, especially OVER buying, is useless and not fulfilling.
 It has given me pause to consider this. I know I do not want to be buried in the ground with the hopes that people will come and "see" me. So, where do I want my ashes scattered? I think I'd like to be divided up among a few places. I enjoy the beach, so a little out there would be nice. I have loved family camping at Convict Lake, so some of me can be tossed there, either the lake or space #43. So much entertaining has gone on at our house for the last 28+ years, a little of me should remain in the dirt in the yard. But, where else? Maybe each person who is still here can take a part of me and scatter it where they love. That way, they will think of me when they visit their favorite spot. What could be better?
They say we truly cease to exist when the last person who knew us or knew of us, no longer says our name. As long as there is someone who still talks about us, remembers us or ponders our life, we remain, somehow, a part of this world.
So, where would you like to be scattered? Interesting question...
Biggsuzi