Where you Belong...

Happy December Darlings!

How 'bout this group pic of my family on Thanksgiving?  How did you fit everyone in, you maybe asking?  Well, even if you're not, I'll tell you.  A selfie stick.  Yes, the very thing that I had previously deemed totally useless, neatly did the trick.  That gadget comes with a remote control so you do not have to have a freakishly long arm to get the shot!.

The smiles on these faces came from a place of happiness and contentment.  My sister Lisa and her hub hosted another fantastic day at their home in the woods.  I got to catch up with my nephews, who I do not see as often as I would like.  We ate, drank wine and played some crazy board games. Even the cold and sometimes drizzling rain couldn't put a damper on our Thanksgiving fun.  Some other cousins dropped by for a visit and cocktail.  Spent some time in old photo albums laughing at our mullets and other fashion faux pas!  It was a simply a perfect day.

Thankful for all of it and praying for the grace of God to allow this day of abundance to remain the traditional event it always is for us.  I realize and do not take for granted how very blessed I am.  With the unrest in the world, I pray that everyone know peace and love.  xo

Love's in need of Love Today...

After being 'separated' since Labor Day, sister in law extraordinaire and I finally hooked up!  She arrived at my house on Saturday afternoon and we spent hours catching up.  Then, after a little fluffing up, climbed into her little red Jeep and made our way downtown to the Joe to catch the Stevie Wonder, "Songs in the Key of Life" concert.  Did I mention that it was the first blizzard of the year?  Yes, it was a slow ride with greasy, unsalted roads full of Detroiters re-learning how to drive in the winter.  But we made it and waltzed into Andiamo for a little pre-show wine and dine.  Later lady luck blessed us as we found a front row parking spot near the door and did the dumb chickie thing by running in heels up the stairs to the Joe.  It is certainly true that being a woman has it's own share of self-inflicted torture!

After finding the nearest booze line, we located our seats and got comfortable.  Stevie was only a little politely late.  The stage was filled with 30 to 40 people at all times including his band, back up singers, a choir, the string section from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as well as lovely dancers.  Stevie Wonder is pure love-in case you didn't know it.  He just is a giant love sponge.  He spoke of his wish for world peace and love.

He sang all of his tunes perfectly and I was surprised to hear that he still had his pipes.  His band did solos that showed off their particular talents and the vocalists treated us all to a verse of their favorite tunes.  Stevie's show was the sixth concert I have been to this year and I'm happy to say the last.  I think he is the last of the musical legends that I need to see.  He was fabulous and even did a few of his cute 'blind' jokes.

His songs make me smile and remind me of specific times in my life and I'm happy to have had the privilege of seeing and hearing him with Sissy.

He's simply a bundle of love-and I think that's just what the world needs right now.

Thank you, Stevie.  You truly are a Wonder. xoxo

La boheme...

My thoughts this week are in Paris with the families of those who died or were injured..  Senseless tragedy is like a death to me, causing me to re-evaluate the important things in life and face my mortality.  If you lost your life or the life of a loved one tomorrow, what would you change today? 

I am trying to do my best to be the best I can be.  Being the most impatient person in the world, I will try not to sigh and shift to foot while in line for my coffee.  Instead, I will be grateful that I can afford that overpriced luxury.  I'm gonna make an effort to be nicer, you never know what's gone on in someones' world that effects their day.  I will be slower to judge and quicker to accept.

And I promise to be more thoughtful.  And I will pray-not only for Paris, but for all of the world's suffering.

Have a full and grateful week, mon ami's.   xo

Be One...

As a tired and uninspired blogger I was drawing a blank tonight.  I got nuthin'.   For an easy prompt I checked out the old 'National Bullshit Day' calendar.  Today is actually National Orphans Day.  Really?  Now what the hell am I gonna do with that?

After consulting the official 'Orphan Handbook', I found some names of interest that I wish to share with you.  Aristotle and Moses were orphans.  3 U.S. Presidents, Jackson, Hoover, and Hamilton were without parents as well as Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X.

Literature orphans included Tolstoy, Keats, Edgar Allan Poe, J.R.R. Tolkien and William Wordsworth, to name a few.  And in entertainment I learned that Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Faith Hill, Ice-T, Marilyn Monroe, and Trent Reznor all were raised without their natural parents.  Steve Jobs and Dave Thomas had the same start in life.

I think that is a pretty impressive little list of names!  Brains, leadership capability, strength, beauty, and creativity are strong veins of commonality.  Don't know exactly if their origins helped to form these strong characteristics, but it certainly has to be considered.  Maybe the people who DID raise them were influences that helped shape them.  Either way, I think it's cool to consider.

Nature or nurture?  Nuclear family or the next best thing?  It's all debatable and relative.

Hope you enjoyed this little 'orphan' education. 

Have a wonderful week, Dolls! xo

Times to Die...

Happy November!  What a crazy few days it has been.  Friday night found us in Ann Arbor for one of the coolest and most unique wedding celebrations ever.  Friends Stephanie and Chris pronounced their vows in a Halloween Eve themed nuptials.  Held at the Michigan Theatre, the old gothic setting was perfect.  The black and silver decorations punctuated with decorated black branches were elegant.  I loved the black cake with the hugging skeletons on top.  The snack bar was open and we all had fresh popcorn and 'theatre' candy as well as cocktails.  The strolling buffet was an incredible mixture of roasted root vegetables and pulled pork sliders with everything in between.  Shot glasses with various desserts were mouth watering.  A ten piece band on the stage played everything you could wish to hear at a wedding.  Needless to say, it was an amazing event.  All the best to the bride and groom.

Saturday found us with another rainy Halloween.  Friends hosted a garage party and I was surprised at how many children braved the elements.  And there were plenty of treats for us big kids, too!

On Sunday, helped some friends move into a condo while marveling at the perfect weather that obscenely held off till after Halloween.  It was all a Michigan fall day should be.  (It would have been nice if the Lions would have won, though!)  I also took a moment to consider All Saints Day.  Remembering family and friends that have passed made me melancholy as I considered my loss and heaven's gain. 

And on Monday, I had a coffee date with Mark.  (Walking Man)  Mark has been helping me with a very special project that I will be sharing with you all soon! 

Life goes on, one little moment at a time.  The spooky, the sweet, the beautiful and the reflective-it's all good.

xoxo

The Way...

What possesses a bald guy to drop his lid on  me one second before the flash goes off?  Dig me n Mark (Walking Man) lookin' silly after a two hour caffeine fueled visit.  It had been over a year since I got together with Mark so we had some serious catchin' up to do.  And, as usual, if you weren't with us, we talked about you shamelessly.  Were your ears ringin' Michelle, Jim, Erik, and Charles?  All love-I assure you.  This week, as I talk about a movie involving 'walking', it's just fitting that I show off my favorite walking man.

I rarely review books and movies but this week I make another exception.  I am on a roll with my fascination with hiking trails.  5:30 a.m. found me awake and scanning channels for something to fall asleep to.  I discovered a movie called, "The Way".  It involves a hike on the El Camino de Santiago, a hiking trail that starts from France through  the foothills of the Pyrenees and ending in Santiago.  In Santiago there is a cathedral that houses the remains of the apostle James with a mass celebrated every day for the hikers.  It is a gorgeous trek, 500 miles I think, filled with luscious scenery through mountains, small villages, vineyards and farmland.  It is full of symbolism and religious iconery-that appeals to me every time.  On the Pacific Crest Trail as well as the Appalachian Trail outdoor camping and carrying your own food is the reality.  On the Camino, there are hostels and restaurants available as you walk from town to town. Wine seemed to be awaiting all the weary trekkers as well as lovely baguettes. I actually aspire to do this trek.  For real.

 I don't really want to give up much about the actual movie, but I was totally enthralled.  The acting, the scenery, the soundtrack and the gripping message is very powerful.  I think it will effect everyone differently for just as many personal reasons.  I absolutely loved everything about it.  Please 'On Demand' or Red Box or rent it as soon as you want an uplifting, beautiful message.

Then, of course, let me know how you feel about it.   Warm fall hugs, my darlings!

The Hills...

Recently I have read two books regarding hiking.  The Pacific Crest Trail to be exact.  The 2,650 trail that leads from Mexico to Canada is an immense hiking effort.  The books I read are "Girl in the Woods" and "Wild".  I absolutely loved both stories with all of the trials and tribulations involved. 

 

The pics above show Dane and I on the Appalachian Trail, where we participated in a mere 12 mile hike.  Both of the girls on the P.C.T. encountered snakes and we found a small garter snake.  Also in both stories the girls had demons that they felt they could reconcile on that long hike.

 

Dane and I, however; had no demons to expunge.  We walked simply for the experience and exercise.  And it was amazing!.  Our 12 miles were an accomplishment for us and we finished sweaty, and tired, with a story all our own.  It never would occur to me to rough it for 2,650 miles through  the desert and the snowy mountains.  Nope.  Not me.  Getting rid of my 'demons' would never involve sleeping in a tent, eating mostly oatmeal, rationing my water, nursing foot blisters, and carrying a giant backpack.  Yes, the two characters 'found' themselves on the trail, but I would have lost my mind.  As much as I love the outdoors, my comfort level is much larger than that.

 

Still I highly recommend both books.  This weekend I watched the movie version of 'Wild'.  I enjoyed it, but as per usual, preferred the book by the same title.  The movie simply does not have enough time to show all of the details that the book does.  However; I did enjoy being able to put a visual to the imaginary picture I had of the P.,C.T.  With Reece Witherspoon as the lead character, I loved the visual depictation.  I hope the "Girl in the Woods" gets made into a move, too.

 

I wholly recommend both books as well as the movie.  It's totally escapism, that for me struck a realistic nerve.  If I was 20 years younger, I would surely attempt that very walk.  But not to discover or find myself.  I would do it for the challenge of it. Very little challenges me physically these days,  save maybe for my boxing, boot camps and various gym workouts, but I would welcome the chance to try.

 

What challenges you  these days?  Do you meet the challenge or do you ignore it as a chance gone by?  Let me know what moves you.   xoxo