Drummers Doing Their Thing

Musica para 6 baterias y 1 apartamento

Found this at Don't Forget Your Sunscreen.

Muffled Noises Transforming The World

Broken Promises
Mistrust
Children of Divorce
Dying Alone
Deaf Ears
Stagnant Assurances
Discarded Hearts
Empty Stomachs
Uninspired Words
The Promise of Peace
Forest Fires
Boiling Revenge
Wasted Energy
Misplaced Loyalty
Silent Cry
Missing A Moment of Truth
Denying Responsibility
A Fallen Tree
An Unshed tear
Baby Steps
A Yearly Calendar
Delusions
Dishonesty

Home on the Range

Have you ever met a real cowboy? Recently I had an opportunity to talk with a cowpuncher genuine cowboy kinda guy and his wife. After reading the zillions of books I have absorbed over the years, it was so much fun to talk to someone who lived the life of a rancher/cowboy.

They told me about the times he had to pack a few horses with supplies to mend fences and travel through rough mountain terrain on horseback pulling along the supply horses. Then upon arrival at the distant location, he would work on miles of fence repair and camp in the evenings until his supplies needed replenishing.

He lived in various bunkhouses and small shacks as he worked his way through diverse locations and bosses throughout his life.

Nice to meet ya, buckaroo.

Choosing The Right Road For Me

As I continue to learn about myself, I find I have had choices as an adult. Making an unwise choice wasn't something I dreaded; being aware and present was the worse apprehension. Stumbling along in a semi-conscious state was the survival mechanism that kept the deep rooted anger and distrust concealed.

50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

The fiftieth year of the tragic ending to a short career in a cornfield in Iowa is being acknowledged worldwide on February 3, 2009.

We recently watched the DVD "The Buddy Holley Story" and then proceeded to read everything we could find on the subject of Buddy Holley and of the Crickets. The movie was excellent; the acting and music and photography kept us settled on the couch for the entire viewing. No potty breaks either.

I would like to pay tribute to the young man who believed in the music he heard and wanted to share with the world. Unfortunately, the plane crash ended that dream and changed music forever. Thank you, Buddy, for believing in those sounds and putting them to music.

Greetings Mighty Groundhog

Tradition dictates that if a groundhog sees its shadow on February 2nd, there will be six more weeks of winter.

Six more weeks wouldn't bother me. This has been a beautiful winter in the midwest.
So bring it on!

According to an article at National Geographic, "the groundhog, or woodchuck, is one of 14 species of marmots. These rodents live a feast-or-famine lifestyle and gorge themselves all summer to build up plentiful reserves of fat. After the first frost, they retreat to their underground burrows and snooze until spring, drawing their sustenance from body fat. While hibernating, the animal's heart rate plunges, and its body temperature is not much warmer than the temperature inside its burrow."

Some of the cartoon graphics are much cuter than the actual photos of the little critter. Not implying that the groundhog is not very photogenic. There are hundreds of great photos available.

I have a specific connection to the groundhog; my birthday is February 2nd, so I have been the recipient of friendly teasing about that. Now that I live around squirrels, I am pleased to have that association with the largest member of the squirrel family.

Celebrating All Women

In honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer:


IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck?
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer)

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later.? ? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's' and More 'I'm sorry's.'

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute.look at it and really see it...... live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us!

Note: A dear friend forwarded this email to me this week. Thanks, Nan!!!!

Spinning Up, Down, Sideways

For some reason I have heard the phrase downward spiral more often than upward spiral. Maybe that is because for most of my life I settled for the downer.

First of all, I have to be facing toward the front to move forward. And I do want that. Living in the present entails being in acceptance of current situations as they pertain to me.

My husband is bipolar. He was working so hard to complete a dream of composing music and playing guitar and putting out a CD. I watched him spiral into a manic state to a place that he was unable to completely finish the music and he is now is a mental health facility. I believe he was taking his meds but he would not seek professional help while he was still able to. Since I don't have bipolar disorder, I can't judge or criticize at all. It is so painful to see someone self destruct and remain powerless to help.

The peaceful life we moved 1500 miles to attain has slipped through our fingers. We did have a short time to enjoy it.

The near future is unknown as well as any long term events. Getting through each day one at a time right now is all we can do.

Keeping People Out

A fence is a way to keep people out. A barrier.
When I saw this graphic, it looks like I feel.
Some of the separate pieces of the fence have been replaced.
Some of my old habits have been replaced and I am stronger now that some of the weather worn tendencies have been eliminated.

A fence also represents a boundary. Having boundaries isn't a negative exclusion.
Setting boundaries is taking care of myself by first understanding what I want and need and then letting other people know what that is. A boundary isn't a wall or a fence to keep people from being with me. It's a way for me to set limits and for others to be safe and comfortable as well.

Tribute To A Beautiful Woman

“I’m selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I’m out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.
-Marilyn Monroe (via Wikiquote)

In Marilyn Monroe's Official Website, words don't do justice to a woman who lived in foster homes as a child and was featured on a US Postage Stamp as a woman.

" Sadly, in a shocking turn of events on the early morning of August 5, 1962, 36-year-old Marilyn died in her sleep at her Brentwood, California home. The world was stunned. Marilyn's vibrant spirit and beauty made it impossible to believe she was gone. On August 8, 1962, Marilyn's body was laid to rest in the Corridor of Memories, #24, at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California."

..."Today, the name "Marilyn Monroe" is synonymous with beauty, sensuality and effervescence. She remains an inspiration to all who strive to overcome personal obstacles for the goal of achieving greatness."

A Barbeque Adventure

Going out to eat is not high on our list of wants and likes.

Every once in awhile we heed an inner summons to eat in a restaurant.

This was a semi-celebratory dinner; 7 of the 8 tunes on the soon to be released CD are totally finished. Done. In the can, so to speak. The last tune is the highly charged dance full of energy tune and just needs the final guitar parts played and recorded.
Needing a break from the consuming high energy work going here the past few weeks, we wanted to mark the occasion by enjoying a meal out.

I checked out some restaurants online and our choice was Famous Dave's.

Neither one of us had eaten at a Famous Dave's so we drove the 4 miles to the restaurant and had a memorable experience. I don't know if all the establishments with this name are of the high standards that this particular one is, but this was an awesome escapade.


We ate and visited with each other and enjoyed every morsel. Of course, we could not eat two-thirds of the food we were served, so we have plenty of leftovers to gobble at our leisure in the next few days. I should do a post about leftovers!!! My mantra is leftovers! Much praise and hooray to the staff at Famous Dave's. Thanks for the great experience and the delicious food. Three cheers to a winner of our culinary hearts!

A Worry Shadow

My friend
has a book of
Scandinavian Proverbs.





This is one of my favorites:

Worry
often
gives a
small
thing
a big
shadow.

Talking Dogs

Click on the video.

Is it the power of suggestion,
or do these dogs "talk"????

Rebel: Revolutionist Or Nonconformist

The dictionary describes a rebel as a person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or ruler. A person who resists authority, control, or convention.

A profound social statement on being a rebel is a post at Goodness Graciousness.

"To rebel against something doesn't necessarily mean we fight against it, it means we refuse to be a part of it. We disengage from it. We eliminate it from our experience.

Here are ten ways to rebel against common and accepted attitudes and behaviors*:

1. An unwillingness to partake of the the violence that permeates our society.

2. An unwillingness to celebrate the objectification and exploitation of women.

3. An unwillingness to worship money, power, and fame.

4. An unwillingness to take into my body substances that are harmful and poisonous.

5. An unwillingness to engage in the voyeurism, used for entertainment.

6. An unwillingness to place human extravagance over the creatures of our planet.

7. An unwillingness to honor gluttony and greed.

8. An unwillingness to support the gruesome, salacious, and tawdry.

9. An unwillingness to follow the crowd, lower one's standards, and accept the status quo.

10. An unwillingness to forget, dismiss, and ignore the pain and suffering of others."

Sounds like a good thing to be a rebel WITH a cause.

Managing Anxiety

Here is a copy of a list on Beliefnet. The list is a recommendation from doctors at Johns Hopkins.

"Anxiety tip #1: Notice and Name.

The first step is to identify your patterns. What specific triggers are linked to your anxiety? Notice what sets your anxiety in motion, and give it a name. Once you bring it into the forefront of your consciousness, you can begin to make sense of it and then to address it.

Anxiety tip #2: Develop a Plan.

Many of us run ourselves ragged by not addressing our worries. One classic example: We’re afraid of getting breast cancer, but we don’t schedule the mammogram -- instead, we spin our mental wheels. Write your specific worry down, and then develop a plan to address it. Tackle one or two worries at a time. Once you’ve completed those, go on to the next on your mental list. This task-oriented process can give you a feeling of satisfaction; more importantly, it makes you feel less vulnerable, more in control of your life.

Anxiety tip #3: Move.

Exercise is one of the best self-treatments for anxiety available. It doesn’t matter whether you go for a walk, join a water aerobics class, dance, play tennis -- what does matter is that you get regular exercise, at least every other day. In the interim, whenever one of those cycles of ruminative worry hits, even simple activity -- minor housecleaning, a few minutes of gardening, some simple stretches, even just getting up and walking around for five minutes -- can help jog you out of that negative feedback loop.

Anxiety tip #4: Breathe.

A number of breathing techniques can alleviate anxiety. For one thing, many people find that when they’re anxious, they breathe shallowly, from the upper chest -- and when breathing is shallow and fast, the body responds with an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormones. In bad moments, they might even be holding their breath. Instead, take a few moments and simply notice your breathing patterns. After a few breathing cycles, take a deep breath. Let your belly be soft and relaxed, and breathe from your lower abdomen. Repeat -- and use this technique any time you notice that you're tense or worried.

Anxiety tip #5: Nurture Your Spirit.

Meditation and prayer trigger the relaxation response, helping calm the mind and body. Even the simplest of prayers or affirmations can help you let go of a worry and put everyday problems into perspective.

Anxiety tip #6: Re-frame Your Thoughts.

Free form anxiety often is triggered or accompanied by a litany of negative internal "chatter." The good news is, the brain is an adaptive organ, and it is possible to break out of the negative mode. However, it takes patience and persistence. The first step is to notice when the negative labels start bouncing around in your mind. Simply notice that your thinking is following a particular track, in a nonjudgmental manner. Next, learn how to talk to yourself in a constructive and rational manner. What would you say to a dear and beloved friend in this instance? Try saying the same thing to yourself. This process is a hallmark of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Anxiety tip #7: Watch the Toxins.

Many people use alcohol, caffeine, or nicotine as short-term solutions for their anxiety. The difficulty is that self-medicating with these substances only creates more problems in the long run. Break the cycle. Similarly, be careful with comfort food--this is one of those times that too much of a good thing can make you miserable.

Anxiety tip #8: Don’t Watch the News.

Use discretion with television, newspapers, and other sources of news. Of course, it is important to know what’s going on in the world, but our current culture--“all news, all the time,” highlighting the latest disaster in endless replays--can easily trigger or feed anxiety.

Anxiety tip #9: Don’t Worry Alone.

In the absence of realistic feedback, we often can spin some fairly creative doomsday scenarios. If something is troubling you, get the reassurance and reality checks you need. Consult someone you trust--a friend, family member, or a religious adviser, for instance. Anxiety often diminishes when we share our worries, and practical solutions to problems may emerge in the course of the conversation."

Tip #3 mentions doing something active. That is something that helps me. The last time I felt anxiety threatening to knock on the door, I swept out the double car garage! Sometimes I vacuum. This will be the first winter living in this area, so when it snows I will be glad to have the stationary bike inside the house (as well as the vacuum!!)

The breathing recommendation in tip #4 will be a post for another time, as well as tip #5 regarding spiritual affirmation of conscience.

Uh oh, tip #7 mentions comfort food. I use that same term frequently when I make something that is soothing for me.

I printed this list to use as a practical tool. Tools are meant to be used even if it's just an emotional hammer.

Generosity, Compassion, Goodwill

There are lots of ways to be generous. A smile or a kind word.

I am learning to be generous to myself. Acknowledging when I do something well, not expecting perfection, allowing myself the opportunity to learn something in my own time. I live in a place called My Personal Freedom. I'm starting to like it here.

When Both Partners Blog

"Good morning, Blogerette, did you find anything interesting this morning?"

"Hey, Dude, yeah, I was surfing the blogs and found something you should see."

This might be a typical morning greeting in a two person household today where both parties have one or more blogs. I used this photo deliberately to remind myself how very different it was at the time this picture would have been taken. No sitting at the computer in pj's fortifying oneself with numerous cups of coffee. NO BLOGS! NO E-MAIL!! NO GOOGLE SEARCHING!!!!

We are a two computer household. Intel Core Duo iMacs. I am the principal on this blog and I contribute to two other blogs that I share with hubby. He hosts four blogs and shares two blogs with me. Our writing styles are different as is the content of the blogs. I am more "feeling" based, and write whatever I'm experiencing at the time. Not that I am flighty (exactly), or mercurial, just lightweight (by choice).

His writing is based on reason and investigation. Because he has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder for over 40 years, one of the blogs is devoted to that subject. He writes with personal insight while remaining unbiased regarding the medical theories.

His writing as well as his music, are an extension of the spiritual energy he allows to flow through him. The natural metaphysical progression is obvious in his verbal and musical compositions.

James Says:

I'm honored that the words my lovely wife writes come from her heart and her mind, and let me talk a bit about her writing and style.

We're talking a huge, even quantum leap in quality, and quantity. She passes along little cultural snippets and other webby stuff, but don't miss her posts when she opens her heart and writes her guts out. Often subtle, sometimes brutal, her writing is always a pleasant surprise to me since she's been doing it such a short time, and she gets such a consistent connection between what she feels and how she wants to say it. I have the luxury of writing, sometimes even for money, for over 25 years, but she makes me humble every time she stretches out and writes long form.

TechnoBabe says:

As you can see, we have access to each other's blogs. This works for us. There are other couples who choose not to share admin rights with their significant others. To each his own. James and I have something in common that follows us throughout the blogosphere: We respect the right of all bloggers to their own selections of subjects and opinions. Couples who blog together like we do, don't really blog "together", we are in fact a couple of bloggers who are together.

Coming Home

(Click on this video. Watch in entirety.)

I can relate to this video. Finding people I am comfortable around and can relate to is like coming home to a place I didn't know existed. The people I was living with as a result of birth were as unfamiliar as strangers. In my ignorance, I wasn't aware that there could be a home situation that was safe and cozy and enriching.

Not only have I found the community and subfamily I have united with; the house I am living in with my husband is the means that brought me home. My destiny is being fulfilled.

Food Fight!!!

There have been a couple times that I could have used one of these spoons. You can check it out at Amazon.com here.

I have to confess to participating in some food fights in my time. One time I was the initiator. In a small restaurant. I could have used one of these spoons when my date said something very inappropriate and I reacted by throwing a spoonful of mashed potatoes at him before I walked out.

That was a long time ago. Just a snippet of a memory now. Fortunately for me, where my life is today is a galaxy away from what it was then. Today I am in a lovely relationship, married to a creative, strong man who makes me laugh sometimes and hugs me lots! I don't want to throw mashed potatoes these days; he makes the mashed potatoes for the Shepherd's Pie and we enjoy our meals together, companionably playing our dice game and watching the critters in the yard.

I've come a long, long way, baby. Indeed.

Does This Make My Butt Look Bigger?

I have a subtle way of asking a question that does not have a good answer. I don't mean to; it must be in the genes (or jeans in this instance). Maybe guys ask leading questions too, fortunately for me, not in my house. My hubby has no problem asking something straight out. He is pretty knowledgeable and knows what he wants and how to find out all the information to make good decisions. So he seldom requests input or advice.

When I ask questions like this, we call them the "Does this make my butt look bigger" questions. There isn't a right or wrong answer but whatever answer is given, it is met with yet another question.

I am learning to think things through on my own before I ask one of these kinds of questions. I don't really want information when I ask this kind of question; most of the time it doesn't merit discussion. I am seeking validation and support but it comes off like informal interrogation. The good thing is that I am learning and we can laugh at the clumsiness of my learning curve by calling out another "Does this make my butt look bigger" question.