Tuesday's Theories- a side story

In the mist of the gas shortage which not everyone has heard about, and the draught, and the economic woes - the day was 'redeemed' by a woodpecker entertaining me getting ready for the day. He was hitting his beak against the window pane -his mating call I believe - why do they call like that - doesn't their head hurt?

By the way those spider webs are on the outside of my house - 45 feet up in the air! It's a hard window to clean from the outside.

We were at church one Sunday, the painter we hired, hired a homeless man to help him. Come to find out the homeless man had drank around 24 cans of beer before he was picked up to help paint our house. Our guy hired help because he was afraid of heights!

Our neighbor across the street is a nurse and by the time we got home the whole incident had cleared. The man lived - due to the amount of liquor he had inside him - the fall went easier and acted as a pain killer.

Chatty

Tuesday's Theories on Redemption

Redemption (flying free)

"When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge."– Tuli Kupferberg

I've been 'thinking' bout redemption. Making things better. Whole if you will. (Not the kind of redemption associated with religion.) I'm thinking about personal redemption.

The definition is as follows:

1.To buy or pay off; clear by payment.

2. To buy back.

3. To recover something pledged by payment or other satisfaction.

4. To exchange for money or goods.

5. To discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).

6. To make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.).

7. To obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.

8. To set free, to rescue.

9. To save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences.

10. To restore with honor, worth, or reputation.

"Memory is a child walking along the seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things". (Pierce Harris)

Memory is a child walking along the seashore. You can never tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its most hurtful things either. (Chatty

Hopefully, for all of us, there will come a time in our life -to meet those memories head on. There is a time for hurting and there is a time for healing. A time to finally let them fly away and a chance to let new ones, better ones, take their place. To restore the soul with honor.

My grandson went to the fair this weekend - both of us are having fun learning to fly and releasing our fears to experience new things. Notice though, help is needed to learn (his belt) (same as in the parachute above) to fly. You just don't start off by flying solo. He did his part by trusting in the belt and the people below. Oh what a blast he had when he let go. You should see his face!

Chatty Thinking.

Monday Mullings- Nights in Rodanthe

"Nights In Rodanthe"

http://daemonsmovies.com/2008/08/11/nights-in-rodanthe-movie-trailer-2008/

Adrienne Willis, a woman with her life in chaos, retreats to the tiny coastal town of Rodanthe, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, to tend to a friend's inn for the weekend.

Here she hopes to find the tranquility she so desperately needs to rethink the conflicts surrounding her--a wayward husband who has asked to come home, and a teenaged daughter who resents her every decision.

Almost as soon as Adrienne gets to Rodanthe, a major storm is forecast and Dr. Paul Flanner arrives.

The only guest at the inn, Flanner is not on a weekend escape but rather is there to face his own crisis of conscience.
Now, with the storm closing in, the two turn to each other for comfort and, in one magical weekend, set in motion a life-changing romance that will resonate throughout the rest of their lives.

Okay guys, that's what the 'movie review' says about the movie. Leads you to think it's a good love story - right? I mean I love, love stories. Well, I should've read the book first.

Oh yes it was a love story, but I was not prepared at all for the ending.

I used to cry when I was younger - at the drop of a hat - I really don't cry all that much anymore - my daughter does though and she often asks me why I don't cry anymore. I'm not sure why really. Maybe I've cried my tears out, maybe I'm just tougher now, or maybe you don't cry so much when you get older.

Well, I cried this weekend. For lots of reasons. For the people I've lost - the things I've lost - the relationships I've lost - the loves I've lost - for all the things that could've been, but were lost - things that might have been, but were lost . . . needless to say this movie really got to me. At first thought I didn't like it - it made me hurt too much and to tell you the truth - I don't want to hurt anymore, I'm still not sure, but it does make you think.

Some young girls in their 20's laughed at the end of the movie. My daughter didn't - I think she was in shock. There were two woman behind me - about my age - and we all started talking. One of the women commented on the girls that were laughing - she said that they were too young to get the meaning of the movie. Perhaps she's right or maybe they were laughing out of nervousness.

I mean what was the meaning of that movie?

We talked about that too and decided that maybe the lesson was to love while you can. I think that Dr. Flanner finally learned how to see life and take a part in life itself. To actually see the people around him as real people. They became visible to him. He was missing his own life. And if there is something we have put off doing - we need to do it now, as you never know about tomorrow.

My other question from the movie - What is that Shakespeare quote? "Is it better to have loved and lost - then never having loved at all?" My daughter says never having loved at all would be better as Adrienne was hurting - severely. It's funny, while I don't like pain myself, I still think I'd rather try to love and take the chance of losing it, than never trying to love at all. (I think.)

What about y'all?

Romantic Chatty

Sunday's Christian Statement

Kindness is Christianity with its working clothes on.
-Unknown

Chatty

Saturday Meditations

Later never exists.
Three little words they are, but oh, how extremely meaningful they are.

Chatty

Fun Friday

If you don't learn to laugh - you will end up looking like this!

The young man who has not wept is a savage, and the old man who will not laugh is a fool.
(George Santayana)

"I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news," he said as he surveyed the worried faces.

"The only hope left for your loved one at this time is a brain transplant.

It's an experimental procedure, very risky but it is the only hope. Insurance will cover the procedure, but you will have to pay for the brain yourselves."

The family members sat silent as they absorbed the news. After a great length of time, someone asked, "Well, how much does a brain cost?"

The doctor quickly responded, " $5 , 000 for a male brain, and $ 200 for a female brain."

The moment turned awkward. Men in the room tried not to smile, avoiding eye contact with the women, but some actually smirked. A man unable to control his curiosity, blurted out the question everyone wanted to ask, "Why is the male brain so much more?"

The doctor smiled at the childish innocence and explained to the entire group, "It's just standard pricing procedure. We have to mark down the price of the female brains, because they've actually been used."

(Just having fun with the guys at their expense)

***********************

Carols for the Psychologically Challenged

* SCHIZOPHRENIA: -- Do You Hear What We Hear?
* AMNESIA -- I Don't Know If I'll Be Home for Christmas.
* NARCISSIST -- Hark the Herald Angels Sing-All About Me.
* MANIC -- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets
and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees
and Fire Hydrants, and.
* MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER -- We Three Queens Disoriented Are.
* PARANOID --- Santa Claus Is Coming To Get Me.
* BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER -- Thoughts of Roasting on an
Open Fire.
* FULL PERSONALITY DISORDER -- You Better Watch Out! I'm Gonna
Cry; I'm Gonna Pout! -- Maybe I'll Tell You Why .
* OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER -- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells.
* AGORAPHOBIA -- I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, but Wouldn't
Leave My House.
* SENILE DEMENTIA -- Walking in a Winter Wonderland--Miles from
My House in My S lippers and Robe .
* OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANCE DISORDER -- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa
Claus-so I Burned Down the House.
* SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER -- Have Yourself a Merry Little
Christmas, While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate .
* ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER -- We Wish You.. . . Hey Look!!!
It's Snowing!!!

TGIF Chatty

Thursday Thoughts on Body Language

DIXIE

Last night I heard the President talk. I am not a Bush hater nor am I exactly a Bush lover, but I do think we should take care of our president and support him (her) when they are in office.

Okay, last night, you can tell so much by body language, that's why it's good to see people face to face, especially when talking about something important.

Well, to me - just by looking at him - I felt his body there - his spirit gone. He has left the office already in my opinion. Not that I wouldn't do the same thing, you can't judge someone unless you walk in their moccasins, however, he said the words, but there was not spirit in his soul. Was I the only one to see that?

Now his words, very depressing. Ole Chatty fretted all night - I must admit. I will work it out internally, but we are in trouble people, and I don't know the answers. Here in Georgia we are in a severe draught and now we're in a severe gas shortage too. There is no gas around me anywhere. Then with his talk last night and all the woe in the paper - it's hard to stay positive.

But, and I know this from experience, you have to tie a knot and hang on. It will get better. We have to have a little faith people. We may come out of this together - better as a nation - and as neighbors. We we will become stronger. We will get smarter. And Dixie will survive - there are a lot of good things to say about Dixie and thought this was apropos:

FRIENDS vs SOUTHERN FRIENDS

FRIENDS: Never ask for food.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Always bring the food.

FRIENDS: Will say 'hello'.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.

FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Call your parents Mom and Dad.

FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Cry with you.

FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.

FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will kick the whole crowd's back-ends that left you.

FRIENDS: Will knock on your door.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Walk right in and say,'I'm home!'

FRIENDS: Will visit you in the hospital when you're sick.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Will cut your grass and clean your house then come spend the night with you in the hospital.

FRIENDS: Have you on speed dial.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Have your number memorized .

FRIENDS: Are for a while.
SOUTHERN FRIENDS: Are for life.

Southern Chatty

Now I'm also still thinking about things that 'color' your life - I had a violet (yes purple) strand of color put in the front of my natural blonde (teehee another 'color of life') hair. I've gotten so many compliments on it. Especially from the young adults. I went to Party City yesterday for Halloween supplies and yet another young girl commented on my hair. She said, "I've never seen anyone over 20 with purple in their hair. It looks great". Well, I'm not sure I'm going to leave it, but I am having fun with it. Now my Bible Study last night - not a word. Wonder what that means?

Are we supposed to wear purple when we get older or not?

Music is the Voice of the Soul- Whimsical Wednesday

Music Is the Voice of the Soul -

I've always loved music and have always thought it an important piece of life. I know it's a huge part of mine. It's funny - I went exercising the other day and the the stereo was broke. We had to do it without music - it was much harder. I'm going today and I hope it's fixed because music makes it much easier and much more fun! It makes exercise in color!

In Color by Jamey Johnson- see below -

I was thinking the other day (Lol) and I realized that at some times in our life we start seeing things in black and white. Then I thought the most amazing thought - my grandson helps me to see in color. He brings me such joy and when I look at things through his eyes - I see the color of life all over again. (I think about my son and his wife not wanting any children and I hope they change their mind. I think someday when their old - they might be sorry. I'm staying out of it - except for prayer . . . )

So let's see what things bring us color -

Art
Books
CD's
Chocolate
Computers
Exercise
Family
Food
Friends
June 09
Music
Quotes
Swimming
Telephones
Wine
Work
Writing
Young children

Can anyone think of any others?

Look at the list. It's a 'grateful list'. It's a list that can make your life happier if you include these things in it and I suppose unhappy if you over dose on them (Lol). The key to life is moderation.

And I almost forgot peace, solitude, meditation, and breathing.

And don't forget God and prayer.

Chatty coloring her life . . .

Jamey Johnson - In Color: Video

The art of changing - Tuesday's Mullings

The Art of Changing -

If you know anything about me me you'd know these things by now:

1)I'm firm believer in making yourself into a better and more positive person no matter what (no excuses).

2) Everything we do in life, is done by our own choice. We have a choices in every decision. I believe we're responsible for those choices we make (no matter what).

3) I'm honest, open, and self examining (for better or worse).

4) I do have educated answers, but I'm not an expert, they're just my humble opinions.

To stay true to the idea of my Blog and myself, this is again about change . . .

Why do some people change and others don't?

Why are some willing to take a risk and others are not?

Does everyone need to change?

I believe that some of us are propelled(shot) into having to change because of some issue of suffering we've gone through in the past. It could be an abusive childhood or marriage, severe life altering poverty and destitution. Sickness - cancer, MS, Parkinson's, etc. The death of loved ones. Starvation. Persecution. Hurricanes/tornadoes. War and it's aftermath. Any sort of severe and unusual strife and stress.

I do so wonder at times if all people go through some severe pain in their life. Pain causes a conversion of sorts. Or are the majority of people blessed enough to have avoided some an enormous pain in their life. We don't talk about these kinds of things much. We want to hide our pain. People don't want to hear about others pain. They ask, "How are you?" and we answer, "Fine," just to avoid talking and feeling about how we feel.

I believe that we who have gone through painful experiences - have much more motivation to work on ourselves to become whole, because of the pain we suffered. I know for a fact that children who suffered in childhood are much more motivated to work on becoming whole because of the pain they find themselves in as an adult. Pain can be a great motivator to make yourself move - either in a negative or a positive direction. I'm supposing that's true for other painful experiences as well. Pain can leave you in a mess. And if you want to get out of it positively you have to reframe you're entire life. I guess some people can learn to accept it like it is. Others turn bitter. Working on your life and change makes one better - accepting the chronic pain and unhappiness instead of changing can make one bitter. Better of bitter.

You have to reach this point:

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom”. (Anais Nin) (You have to really 'get' this to get this.)

What we hope ever to do with ease we may learn first to do with diligence."– Samuel Johnson

So are there people out there that don’t have to work on becoming whole?

I think becoming whole is a process of living - as that is the nature of life - to grow and change - it's in all living things. It's part of the human condition. I mean how can you get around it change? I wonder at times if that's what depression, suicide, fear, insanity come from. Knowing you need to change, but for some reason you just can't (although the word can't is one I hardly use or let my kids use - I always have taught them the Yoda phrase - "Do or do not, there is no try!" Even my grandson has been taught that).

In the book A New Earth he talks about the plant that turns into a flower. The seed doesn't become a bigger seed it becomes a plant. The plant doesn't become a bigger plant - it becomes the flower. It metamorphoses from one thing to something entirely different.

"I do believe it is possible to create, even without ever writing a word or painting a picture, by simply molding one's inner life. And that too is a deed." – Etty Hillesum (You can find ways to change in many ways out there.)

What about the people out there who are staunch believers for remaining the same. Those who do not want to change or those that just can't change for some reason? An unhappy person choosing to stay unhappy -that seems so sad to me - why would someone want to do that? They might even know they're unhappy and they still make the decision to stay the same. Maybe they just don't want to do the work it takes to change - it's too hard- too much work. Maybe they are afraid. Maybe they are scared of who they will become. Maybe the habit is too conmforatable they way it is.

To change means they would have to be honest with themselves and examine who they are. No one can remove the thorn in their flesh/soul for them. They must chose and do the work themselves. Truth is we all find out things about ourselves that aren’t too complimentary! Change is scary, it is painful, and it deals with the unknown. And for whatever reason, they cannot or will not change – even though it’s detrimental to the ones they love.

Changing Chatty

"Courage is the human virtue that counts most — courage to act on limited knowledge and insufficient evidence. That's all any of us have."– Robert Frost

The opposite of love is indifference . . . Monday's Mulling

The opposite of love is not hate but indifference.

(Elie Wiesel)

Gee, that is one lesson I've learned well in life. If you want to get back at someone - don't argue back and get mad - be indifferent. . .

You can learn to change what you learned in the past, but it's work and work is just plain hard, but oh what an opportunity. . . .

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." (Thomas Edison)

Sometimes people look at work as something awful. I don't, I really like to work - weird I know, but it does give me a sense of accomplishment.

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.
(Joseph Cardinal Bernardin)

There's no time like the present.

Love,

Chatty

Sunday's Christian Statement

God does not work by only one method, paint in only one color, play in only one key, nor does He make only one star shine onto the earth. (Eberhard Arnold)

Isn't that great to know?

Chatty

Saturday Meditations

"The epitome of the human realm is to be stuck in a huge traffic jam of discursive thought". Chogyam Trungpa

This means that the our reality feels like it is stuck in a huge traffic jam - passing aimlessly from one subject to another - rambling.

Do you want to take a risk and make a change just for ten minutes?

Then be silent. Feel the peace and freedom.

There is a quiet place behind the noise of thinking. It's there for us whenever we want it.

The first step is becoming aware of the traffic jam and admitting it is there - then to stop it with some silence - and feel the peace and freedom you experience.

Maybe then our minds will become clearer. (And then, maybe they won't - Lol)

Chatty

Fun Friday

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.

Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement -- not even her parent's nasty divorce.

Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed mother-of-the-bride ever!

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new young wife had the exact same dress! Jennifer asked her to exchange it, but she refused. 'Absolutely not, I look like a million bucks in this dress and I'm wearing it,' she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, “Never mind sweetheart, I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day.”

A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, “Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it.”

Her mother just smiled and replied, “Of course I do, dear. I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding!”



Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety-one?

If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...does that mean that one out of five enjoys it?

Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?

If people from Poland are called Poles, then why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, then doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP? ?

Do Lipton Tea employees take 'coffee breaks?'

What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use. Toothpicks?

Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

Is it true that you never really learn to swear until you learn to drive?

If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?

Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?

As income tax time approaches, did you ever notice: When you put the two words 'The' and 'IRS' together, it spells 'THEIRS'?

(teehee - hope it made you laugh - have a good Friday-

Chatty

Thursday's Thoughts

Oprah's magazine wrote, "Have you heard of Eckhart Tolle? He's a spiritual teacher whose new book Oprah calls the most important she's ever chosen for her book club. It explains how to free yourself from the tyranny of the past, live more fully in the present, and come to the calm joyful place where intuition. creativity, and wisdom live and breathe".

Now that's a huge statement. I did get the book on CD's read by Eckhart himself. It has 8 CD's. I'm on number 6. It is interesting, it's deep. I had to go out to BJ's yesterday to buy the book so I could highlight it. I am going to eventually listen to it again and follow with the book.

I don't know if I believe in all what he says. It'll be good to read it again in a couple of years - some books are like that - you change and grow - you reread it - and then you get different things out of it, then you did before.

It does have some good thoughts in it, what he's really talking about is finding your core self. It also talks about being in the now. I'm waiting to see if he tells us how to do it!

He says to be truly alive - you must live in the here and now. You're not supposed to be worrying/thinking about the past or the future. I find that can be pretty tricky. That it is our ego that gets us into trouble and he wants us to transcend or change our ego, and then you will find happiness.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh, "The problem is not entirely in finding the room of one's own, the time alone, difficult and necessary as that is. The problem is more how to still the soul in the midst of it's activities".

Any comments from someone else who read it?

I read this in the paper yesterday, it was a vent - but it's good: "Retirement is like getting out of prison after surviving a 40-year sentence: so much to do, so little time."

Do you ever feel that sometimes?

"Man improves himself as he follows his path; if he stands still, waiting to improve before he makes a decision, he'll never move". (Paulo Coelho)

Chatty
PS The next book I have started - is 3 books in one - by romance novelist LaVerne Spencer. I'm going to give my head a break and just relax a bit! Starting with the book called "Bygones".

Wednesday's Whims (songs)

Music Is the Voice of the Soul

and if you don't listen to the song below - you will miss something so beautiful and wonderful - it will fill all your senses - a gift from me to you - Because We Believe. . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW74L4qNEqY

Thought for the day -

"The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you." B.B.King

and here's a recipe I received today - kind of interesting - thought I'd share that too:

The most dangerous cake in the world:

3-MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Small splash of vanilla
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well . Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The
cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to share!)
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?

Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day
or night!

Love, Chatty

Tuesday's Theories

Dreams

This is a question I go back and forth with - dreams - are they good or are they bad?

The answer is they are probably both. When does a dream change from good to bad and when does a dream change from bad to good? Does it change?

Why do people dream? Do some people dream to get away from reality? Do some people dream to enhance their reality? Again, both are probably true.

Do people dream to move ahead with their life? Or do people (day)dream to avoid moving on?

What if one person has a dream and the person or people they're connected with, don't have that same dream? What if the person you're connected with or friends with or even family members - what if every one's dream is different? How does that work as a unit?

What if your dream involves another - what if they don't have the same dream? You can't make them live your dream. You'd have to let go of your dream. You'd have to change it or tweak it.

What about the timing of dreams coming true?

Maybe we should stop dreaming and just be in the here and now. . . who knows.

I read this in the paper yesterday, it was a vent - but it's good: "Retirement is like getting out of prison after surviving a 40-year sentence: so much to do, so little time."

Don't you feel that sometimes? You just get the kids raised, your house paid, all the responsibilities done - then you look around, you sort of 'wake up', and realize hey, there's not a whole lot of time left! I have so much yet I want to do. I need to live now (is that a mid-life crisis?). I don't know about you, but I don't want waste the time I have left. I don't want to waste it with negative things. I'm a middle aged hippie. Love, not war.

I have many dreams, but one of my fun 'dreams' is to have a celebration of life. I want to take a brief period of time and do something totally different. I don't want to look back 20 years from now and say - gee I wish I had done that. The time to celebrate life and friends is now.

My dream:

I'd like to find a villa in Italy or Greece for the summer - from mid-June to mid-August. I need to find someone who would rent me their house. It would be great if it had a pool. Some shade trees are a must - possibly some vineyards (well it is my dream - right?). It'll be near transportation so I can visit other cities in Europe if I choose to do that.

I'd invite my closest friends to come. They can come and go any time within those 8 weeks. It'll be a party - a festival.

And yes, Italy and Greece are both hot that time of year, but this summer, will be just a bit cooler - with a nice steady breeze all summer long. Oh yeah, I'd like to stay in a coastal city, by the water. Vico Equense would be great. Right overlooking the crystal blue water - in or near the mountains.

I only want serious people there - serious about celebrating life - serious about being able to laugh - serious about feeling.

The joys - the laughter - the smells - the sites - the pain - the tears - the tastes - the people - the love - the music - you know what I mean? Feeling people. If you don't like that sort of thing, then I doubt if you'd have much fun at this celebration. You'd have to be able to just let yourself go and just be yourself. No expectations. No rules. No have to's. No should's. And no one has to take care of anyone, but themselves! We all would have to be responsible for our own things and our own selves! Maybe that is part of this new found freedom I'm looking for.

Just for 8 weeks mind you. Then back to reality. Of course, then we'd have our memories to dream about.

Anyone know of a place in Italy or even Greece that would be willing to rent their home to me for 8 weeks this summer? Seriously?

"And Charlie, don't forget about what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he ever wanted… He lived happily ever after." ~ Roald Dahl

Chatty thinking and having fun and of course - dreaming . . . yakking again (Lol) . . .dancing. . . .

Dreams - anyone got one they'd like to share?

Monday Mullings

Manifesting Reality or The Secret

By Personal Development for the Book Smart :
"Can you really do that or is that bunk? You decide. I'd love to have feedback if anyone has used this process and their results.

Step 1 - You Ask:

You are a radio transmitter, You send out a signal constantly - make sure the one your sending out is the right one in order to get the right results.

Set goal and dream.

Step 2 - The Universe Answers:

Step 3 - You Must Receive:

You must act like it has happened and be ready to receive.

This is the basis of 'The Secret'. I think there's something to it - just not sure how much. I think you to be committed to those things above.

"You are supposed to make a list - of all the things you want and all the things you do not want. Then you are supposed to throw away the 'things you do not want' list and concentrate only on the 'what you want' list.

See yourself already in possession of what you want. Dream. Plan. Visualize. Feel good about it.

Have you heard about gratitude rocks? Every time you reach into your pocket and touch the rock, you're reminded to give gratitude in that moment for all the abundance that's already in your life.

Meditation is a big part of this. See your desire as if it had already happened. See yourself doing what you dreamed of. Each step of the dream - no matter how small - see yourself doing it.

Live it in your mind. Add emotion. Do whatever it takes for you to enjoy the situation. And love those feelings.

Then forget about it.

If you keep asking where my stuff is - what message are you sending out to the universe?

Do you feel good or bad?

Make sure you don't make up your emotions they must be real.

You can't pretend you are happy when you are not.

Keep up visualization. Live it, breathe it, smell it, taste it.

Then forget it again for the day.

Go on with you business.

The next day - meditate - and go on.

Some day you will have your dream".

End of the Personal Development Blog.

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Okay, okay - kind of different thinking for some of us - I realize. He did ask for feedback. I think there's a lot right in what he says, but I have some thoughts on this too . . .

This "Secret" itself is tricky because you may believe you have done the pieces all 'correctly' and if it doesn't happen, you may think it or you failed. Or you might think you used the "Secret" correctly and the truth is you didn't do one little something right. It's much harder than just the summary above. If it wasn't - wouldn't we all be millionaires by now?

I do believe some people have achieved this "Secret" mentality throughout the ages and some in this current day. However, I believe it's extremely hard to do all the pieces correctly. I don't know if it can be done by 'just anyone'. I think there is a certain personality and mentality that must accompany this - plus hard work - plus . . . . . . you really have to 'get' it.

I do believe that we can gain some benefit from doing these things. I believe it helps you to look at life more positively and more freely. I believe in both joy and sadness - as long as most of the time you feel joy and not sadness (unhappiness). If not - that is a red flag that something is wrong! Get help. (You don't want to end up in life as a curmudgeon do you?)

I also believe you must go on with life, living it the best way you can, incorporating a time for dealing with the demons of your past and the ones in your present. Meaning that I don't think (for some of us - me included) (unless you don't have any ?) that there is a chance in the world to be truly happy - until you deal with and make friends with the demons of the past or present that have been or are in your life. True happiness is acceptance of life in the here and now. (And no, I have not gotten there yet - but I'm working on it.) I can tell you I am more happy now, than I have ever been - internally. I'm not talking about your kids, your house, that kind of thing. I'm talking about inward peace.

Now the gratitude part of this is excellent. I believe we become what we think we are. Being grateful makes you feel good. It makes a good relationship with God. It makes you think, gee I'm blessed or lucky to have these things. It makes you feel more positive about yourself. Then it follows, if you have a positive self image of yourself, it shows to the world. The next step is that the world will treat you more positively. Starting with just one small change, leads to another change, which leads to another and so on. Steps. I believe you can change your life and make it more positive in this way alone. A process . . .

Okay I already keep a grateful journal. I've been doing it for some ten to fifteen years now. That is one of the things that has made a huge difference in my life.

I went down and got one of my grandson's polished rocks - a pretty blue and white marbled one. Each and every time I feel it in my pocket I'm going to thank God for something. (Extra gratitude).

I'm going to commit to meditating - let's say 4 times a week. I'm always so busy (if something is important you need to schedule it in for yourself - make an appointment). Meditating helps me keep my head level when those around me don't. I know it works, but darn, I always put that off. Why is that? Have to think about that.

And lastly of course I dream. A lot. What are we without out dreams? Dreams are a piece of us. But even if they don't come true for us, like we want them too, we still need to be grateful.

It feels good to be grateful. It feels good to feel good.

Chatty (yakking too much!)

Sundays View

Gratitude is the mother of all the virtues.
-G.K. Chesterton

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.

(Karl Barth)

Put a little joy in your heart (today, now, right now) . . . . Chatty

Saturday Meditations

As Zen Master Taisen Deshimaru said, "Keep your hands open, and all the sands of the desert can pass through them. Close them, and all you can feel is a bit of grit."

Be open. Feel life. Live it. Whatever it may bring. Good or bad. Be in the now.

Easy to say, harder to do.

Chatty

Fun Friday

"Laughter! I live by the motto, "Don't take it serious, life's too mysterious!" Stress is a beauty robber. We all have so much stress and it wears on us. Beauty surely begins from the inside out. I have faith that things will work out, and laughter helps me to put things in perspective. When you laugh, you lighten the load-and it shows." Sue Arendt

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A father put his 3 year old daughter to bed, told her a story & listened to her prayers which ended by saying: "God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy, God bless Grandma &good-bye Grandpa."

The father asked, "Why did you say good-bye grandpa?" The little girl said, "I don't know daddy, it just seemed like the thing to do." The next day grandpa died. The father thought it was a strange coincidence.

A few months later the father put the girl to bed &listened to her prayers which went like this: "God bless Mommy, God Bless Daddy & good-bye Grandma.." The next day the grandmother died. Oh my gosh, thought the father, this kid is in contact with the other side.
Several weeks later when the girl was going to bed the dad heard her
say: "God bless Mommy &good-bye Daddy."

He practically went into shock. He couldn't sleep all night &got up at the crack! of dawn to go to his office. He was nervous as a cat all day, had lunch &watched the clock. He figured if he could get by until midnight he would be okay. He felt safe in the office, so instead of going home at the end of the day he stayed there, drinking coffee, looking at his watch &jumping at every sound. Finally midnight arrived, he breathed a sigh of relief &went home.

When he got home his wife said "I've never seen you work so late, what's the matter?" He said "I don't want to talk about it, I've just spent the worst day of my life." She said, "You think you had a bad day, you'll never believe what happened to me. This morning my golf pro dropped dead in the middle of my lesson!"

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At Penn State University, there were four sophomores taking chemistry and all of them had an "A" so far. These four friends were so confident that the weekend before finals, they decided to visit some friends and have a big party. They had a great time but, after all the hearty partying they slept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to State College until early Monday morning.

Rather than taking the final then, they decided that after the final they would explain to their professor why they missed it. They said that they visited friends but on the way back they had a flat tire. As a result, they missed the final.

The professor agreed they could make up the final the next day.

The guys were excited and relieved. They studied that night for the exam.

The Professor placed them in separate rooms and gave them a test booklet. They quickly answered the first problem worth 5 points.

Cool, they thought! Each one in separate rooms, thinking this was going to be easy.... then they turned the page.

On the second page was written.... For 95 points:

Which tire? _________

***********************************************************************

Have fun today - enjoy each and every day,
Chatty

WHERE GOD WANTS ME (Music: OVERWHELMED by Hillsongs)

9-11-08 The date stands alone. For every one who has lost their life for us or who have faught in any war - we thank you today and always.

Wednesdays Song

This week has been kind of rough - my grandson and husband have had a stomach condition. I think it was a touch of food poisoning as they both ate the same thing Sunday morning and then both got sick at the exact same time - in the middle of the night! My grandson got it worse - I think he will go back to school tomorrow. My husband, poor guy, had to fly to Virginia on Monday.

And oh my gosh, my Blog is accepting songs again from You Tube! Now this song by Paul McCartney may have been written for other reasons then I'm thinking about - however I think it can be felt for anyone who was oppressed at one time and is just waiting to learn to fly.

Hope you enjoy! And soar y'all soar!
Chatty

Paul McCartney Blackbird 1975

Tuesdays Ramblings

The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowball. (Doug Larson)

Love, Chatty

Monday Celebrations

"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."
– Robin Williams

REFRAMING YOURSELF

Journal Manage Stress:
A New Way to Journal to Manage Stress
by Debbie Mandel

"Just when you think everything is going your way, a stress hits and destabilizes you to challenge your balance.

For example, a close friend doesn’t invite you to a party she is giving or doesn’t spend as much time with you as you were used too.

Perhaps, this year you didn’t go on a traveling vacation because of the expense.

Maybe your spouse made a sharp dismissive remark which opened up some old wound.

Then worst of all, you look in the mirror and there is no need to ask because you can plainly see that you are not the fairest of them all!


What are you going to do to get back to center?

No one seems to notice or care while you are self-absorbed in the predicament.

It’s time to pick yourself up and see that although you are an ordinary mortal, you possess extraordinary powers.

Wake up! Life is a series of recoveries.

To recover more quickly next time – start journaling today! (How about Blogging-Lol)

Keeping a record in black and white objectifies your stressor and takes the mystery out of it. You can then view what is upsetting you from different angles to reframe and release.

However, you might reply that you have heard about journaling countless times as it is a real old stress-management device which doesn’t work for you. Wait, help is on the way!

I have a new approach on recording your thoughts which is more likely to create a relaxation response and I'm excited to present it you.

When journaling your deep thoughts, accompany each entry with a photograph, a cut-out from a magazine, picture post card, or your own drawing or painting.

Recently I interviewed Victoria Cass on my radio show about her book, In the Realm of the Gods, which contains gorgeous Chinese photographs accompanying each specific regional Chinese myth and legend. You get a multi-sensory impression of words and pictures. While we were discussing the structure of her book, Victoria observed that American books don’t delight in the merger of words and pictures the way Chinese books and scrolls do.

It hit me like lightening this technique could be a great device for stress-management. Imagine: You write it, read it and see it! Now, that’s what I call a comprehensive natural detoxification.

Here’s how it would work with one of the aforementioned stresses.

You make a journal entry expressing your hurt that you were not invited to your close friend’s party.

Now you look for an accompanying visual portrayal of what you wished would happen. Perhaps, it’s an old photograph of you blowing out the candles at your birthday party, or an art deco picture of people sipping drinks at a party.

Or go the opposite route and select the Disney picture of the fairy who was not invited to Sleeping Beauty’s party. You can select a visual which expresses your anger or one which expresses wish fulfillment because there is no right or wrong about your feelings.

In any case pictures don’t rationalize or lie like words. So, write and see. Then put it away for awhile as you go on to the next journal entries using the same method.

Revisit later on. Do you see anything different?" (by Debbie Mandel).

I think that is a great idea. Using more than one sense to visualize and hey, don't forget one more thing - remember to love others and to love yourself!

Life is a series of recoveries.



Chatty

If you planted hope today in any hopeless heart,

If some one's burden was lighter because you did your part,

If you caused a laugh that chased a tear away,

If tonight your name is mentioned when someone kneels to pray,

Then your day was well spent.

Chatty

PS Spend some time relaxing with you friends.

(Believe it or not my grandson is in this picture - watching television with all his little 'friends' surrounding him. Look to the right and you can see his head of hair and look to the left and you can see his arm, the green 'things' are his legs - he was in his Ben Ten costume. He wanted to watch some television and he sprawled out all his 'friends' around him. He is such a doll. My house such a mess, but he's worth it.)

Saturday Meditations

Taken entirely from Daily Celebrations - I just thought this was so good - I wanted to share the whole thing with you.

"Nothing is impossible, unless you think it is." ~ Paramahansa Yogananda

Dwell in possibilities.

The Jains sect of India discuss philosophy with the doctrine of syadvada, the "perhaps method:" For any question, there are 353 different viewpoints. To any discussion or perspective, the
thoughtful reply is "perhaps," or "maybe it is and maybe it isn't."

Granted, syad-vada sounds a bit "wishy-washy" because it allows you to say yes, no, maybe, and 350 other things at the same time. But the basic concept also allows you to EXPAND the way you problem- solve. And come up with solutions outside the box.

Marcel Proust wrote: "The only true voyage of discovery, the only really rejuvenating experience would not be to visit strange lands,but to possess other eyes, to see the universe through the eyes of another, of a hundred others, to see the hundred universes that each of them sees."

If you have a problem or are searching for answers, look at the situation through the eyes of another. Consider the possibilities. Open your heart and mind to the options.

"If you tell a person they should have done something, they will come up with 50 reasons why they couldn't have," explained writer Hendrie Davis Weisinger. "Change your should statements to could. It creates options for people, making it easier for them to improve and to change."

Imagine what you COULD do...

Impossible = I'm possible

Isn't this a great one? Again, this was completely taken from Daily Celebrations.com"

Chatty

Fun Friday

"Laughter! I live by the motto, "Don't take it serious, life's too mysterious!" Stress is a beauty robber. We all have so much stress and it wears on us. Beauty surely begins from the inside out. I have faith that things will work out, and laughter helps me to put things in perspective. When you laugh, you lighten the load-and it shows." Sue Arendt

*****************************************************************

A woman went to the doctor's office where she was seen by a young new doctor.

After about four minutes in the examination room, the doctor told her she was pregnant.

She burst out screaming and ran down the hallway.

An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was.

She told him her story.

After listening, he had her sit down and relax in another room.

The doctor marched down the hallway to the first doctor and demanded, "What's the matter with you? Mrs. Smith is 59 years old, she has four grown children, seven grandchildren and you told her she was pregnant?"

"The new doctor continued writing on his clipboard and without looking up said, "Does she still have the hiccups?"

(That'd cure me from the hiccups, but it might give me a heart attack!)

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On the first day, God created the dog and said: "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."

The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?"

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span."

The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?"

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said: "You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"

And God agreed again.>

On the fourth day, God created man and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."

But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you...

It's all good,
Chatty

Oh yeah one more thing:


http://www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons.-Ruth Ann Schabacker

Why You Should Run Away From Home -

(From Woman's Day by Paula Spencer)

"There is an utterly wonderful excuse, free of deviance, for going off all by your lonesome to enjoy your own company -

You need to visit with the person still there beneath the labels (mom, wife, employee).

There will be nobody to consult, follow, lead, compromise with, reprimand or pick up after.

There will be someone else to make the bed and serve you the food.

(Now that's an amazing adventure right there.)

You could take aimless three-hour walks in which nobody whines that they need to go to the bathroom . . .

You could watch your favorite movies uninterrupted.

If you go to the beach you could listen to the waves until you doze off.

You could eat McIntosh apples and chocolate-covered almonds for dinner, if you feel like it.

You could sit in a deep Adirondack chair with a book on your lap . . . unopened, for hours.

You could walk into tourist shops and peruse - what else - kids stuff?

You could open a gorgeous leather notebook and draw doodles.

You don't have to do anything you planned to do!

You don't even have to sleep. You'll be so giddy at being yourself that you'll want each day to last as long as possible.

You can stay up late watching lame TV.

Then when you come back and if your daughter asks if you brought her anything - you can hand over the t-shirt you bought her.

But think about this - you've already given her something better than souvenirs or lectures: a good example.

She can thank you in a couple of decades."
Chatty

"The problem is not entirely in finding the room of one's own, the time alone, difficult and necessary as that is. The problem is more how to still the soul in the midst of its activities."

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Some Beautiful Songs of Inspiration:

You Raise Me Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBga34W57As&feature=email

Life Is Hard, but God is Good

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=c8a28f3e0826e18a8ad1

The Resurrection

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQg0xwETNwg&feature=email

I hope you enjoy and feel inspired.

Remember: Be Pawsitive!

Chatty

Happiness is the delicate balance between what one is and what one has.-F. H. Denison

Some tips I read I thought were interesting - taking it easy today and breathing!

From Woman's Day June 2008.

If only I knew then . . . How a glimpse into the past can improve your future by Tamekia Reece.

I picked a couple of ones I wish I could make my daughter hear. Trouble is even if my mom had told me - would I have listened? It is something I have learned through life. I added one of my own too!

BE KIND INSTEAD OF RIGHT (Let it go - you can be 'right' in your head and heart - Chatty)

WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERY DAY (Besides helping prevent cancer, it makes your skin look younger longer- Chatty).

IF IT ISN'T IN YOUR WALLET DON'T SPEND IT "

DON'T TRY TO BE PERFECT - BE YOURSELF - BEING YOURSELF IS GREAT! (Chatty)

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Some tips regarding Alzheimer's - anybody having senior moments out there? I do sometimes!

The Alzheimer's Boom - Woman's Day - August 2008 - by Dana Gottesman

"Build muscle - excess fat affects brain function - take a 30 minute brisk walk at least 3x a week.

Chill out for at least 15 minutes a day.

Learn something new every week.

Keep your brain working."

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Some good health habits to do daily:

1. Eat a colorful salad and two pieces of fruit

2. Take a 30 minute walk

3. Have oatmeal for breakfast

4. Keep tabs on portion sizes

5. Wear your seat belt

6. Eat fish

7. Call a close friend

8. Relax for at least 10 minutes a day

9. Sleep

10. Stay smoke free

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Last, but not least, I heard on the radio today that people who believe that the sun will come out tomorrow, will live longer than those who don't believe that. :)

Hope you get at least one tip out of here you can use (Lol).

Chatty

Happy Labor Day - a day where there's all sorts of labor going on - whether we realize it or not. So many times labor is thought of as a negative word - but I'm thinking it 's how you look at it. What we choose to labor with are our choice. We may think it's not, but it is. Life is about our choices. What we labor on says a lot about us - what's important and what is not important.

There are many kinds of labor besides working a job. Of course there is the labor of the job - whether it be at a work place or at home.

Kids labor with homework. Growing up. Learning about life. Finding out the rules of life. They labor with finding out who they really are! (At this age they are a mixture.)


Older people labor to do the things that in their youth was so easy. Plus they labor with the fact they're growing old. We labor through mid life crisis's!

Women labor to bring children in the world. They labor to raise them. They give up so much of their selves.

Men also labor to raise them up. They labor on the lawn, the house, and their jobs.

It seems to me that no matter you are - there is always some kind of labor involved. My grandson said last night as I was putting him to bed, "Grandma, you can never do nothing". I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "Well, you probably think you're doing nothing right now, but you are - you're going to bed!" Now I don't know if you get that or not - but I did. How fitting for this Blog on labor - you're even doing something when you go to bed - you're trying to go to sleep! We're always working and we're always busy. You can never just do nothing. In some cases some people are busier than others. :)



Even when you go on vacation there's the labor of the planning, getting there, the plan of having fun, getting back, the mail, the house, the unpacking, and the returning to the labor of your job.

Even when you go on your picnic today you labor getting it ready, packing, cleaning up.

There is the labor of helping other people. There is the labor of giving of yourself sometimes until it hurts.

You have to work or labor at keeping your friends.

There is also the labor of growing up. I could write a book about that, but I'm not.

I think I've reached a pinnacle . . . a mid life crisis (?) is you will which is a labor too.

I'm at the point in my life where I want it all. I want more out of life than I've ever wanted out of it. I want to live life to the fullest of my ability. It's taken me a lot of years to get to here - I've labored to get here!. I don't want to look back - I want to look ahead. I want to have fun. To be happy. To feel joy. I want to play. I want to feel good. I want to see the world. I want to hear the music and words of life. I want to feel loved and accepted for who I am. I want to touch the beautiful things in life. I want to smell cotton candy and taste the chocolates of life. These are the labors of life - the labors of fun. Sometimes you have to chuck all the work type labor and just do the fun labor. I'm sorry, but it's true. Life is way to short at our age to be so serious!

And to do this you gotta take risks. And when one door is closed you have to believe that another will open. Just give life a chance. Life is good. And that is a labor of trust. "No great deed, private or public, has ever been undertaken in a bliss of certainty."
– Leon Wieseltier

So your can think of the negatives of labor OR your can think of labor as positive. Yes, work is hard - but the results are great. A job, kids, homes, vacations, picnics, friends, growing up, realizing that life is full of 'life itself' and that you want to live it fully. So another 'choice' is how you decide to look at things.

"The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself."– Anna Quindlen (And don't forget to take care of yourself - that's a labor too.)

Chatty