The Spirit of Laughter

A person who can

bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed.

- Bennett Cerf

John Pinette.  I have two of his DVD's.  The guy is hilarious.  

I so get his sense of humor.  

And it doesn't matter that I've watched them countless times, 

I laugh just as hard -- or harder -- each time.  

The man is gifted.  He IS indeed blessed.

Some comedians are clearly more gifted than others, but John Pinette?  He's Five Star category.  One of my favorites, here, his Water Park adventures.

And this mini clip, one of his more notorious cliches, "Get Out of Line!"

If only I could see his show in person!  It's on my wish list.

Imagine that this is your occupation in life:  Making people laugh.

MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH?

How SWEET is that?

A smile starts on the lips,

A grin spreads to the eyes,

A chuckle comes from the belly;

But a good laugh bursts from the soul,

Overflows,

And bubbles all around.

~ Carolyn Birmingham

Standing Tall

I had to go to the mall on my lunch hour today to return a few items, and while there, buy my son a pair of swim trunks for our trip (dangerous move).  I've been needing a new pair of running shoes for several weeks, and I've not had a lot of time to shop for them.  When I find a pair I like, and at the right price, they don't have my size.  

Today was my lucky day. 

I found a pair of hot pink and black Nike running shoes, light as a feather, good support, and they'll work equally well for training at the gym.  I'm jacked!  New shoes!  New shoes!  Can't wait to try them out. 

Speaking of running and exercise, there was a segment on the NBC Nightly News last night about avoiding height loss as we age.  

Got my attention.

My inner voice was cheering to me, "Atta girl, T...keep at it!"

This made me immediately think of my mother-in-law.

My mother-in-law spent the weekend with us, and I hadn't seen her since Christmas.  I notice that each time I see her, she looks more frail, moves slower, more aches/pains, etc., and I've been noticing this for years.  Oh, I appreciate the fact that aging happens.  We stare it in the face every morning.

But I'm convinced that much of what ails her and her increasing limitations has to do with her inactivity over the years.  This woman rarely participates in any form of physical activity.  She has walked now and then over the years on occasion, certainly not a regular commitment, and not at what most would consider a brisk enough pace
to get her heart rate up.

And as for any sort of calisthenics or stretching or weight lifting?
 Forget it.

Apparently my subtle encouragements and hints I've dropped over the years have fallen on deaf (deafening) ears.

Not this chick.  I won't go down without a fight.  I refuse to lie down and surrender to these degenerative processes.  It's up to me to do my part to stay in the fight, on my feet, and standing tall in the face of the enemy.

This is why I move.

This is why I train.

This is why I walk, run, and incorporate varied cardio into my life.

I "move" mostly because I can, and I move with a deliberate and conscious resolve to overcome obstacles and setbacks.

I move so that my parts don't -- well, disintegrate to rust!

And as the NBC segment mentions, the earlier you start moving, the better.

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion

to their commitment to excellence,

regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

- Vince Lombardi

I commit.

I will strive for my personal best level of excellence.

My quality of life deserves it.

Red Hot Weekend

Sizzling, RED HOT weekend!  Temps 95 and above every day, but I loved every minute of it!  Having a long stretch of four days off (Friday was a vacation day) gave me plenty of time to get my back porch floor repainted.  With no rain in sight and four straight days of hot temps, we had just what we needed to get this project accomplished with no interruption.

Sitting on my porch a few weeks ago, I was contemplating what color to go with.  This was my inspiration piece:

RED.  Of course!  I wanted an impact.  Something "saucy" and a little daring.  Vibrant.

After all, I tend to have "red taste" in many things.

Oooh, yes, I'll have red, please!

The Color Red Is...

Not just warm and cozy…

It’s brave.

It’s bold.

Hot

Intense

Exciting

Stimulating

Empowering

Competing

Dramatic

Dynamic

Red is a symbol of passion—

RED IS … A STATEMENT

And I wanted to make a statement.

Friday began with power washing the entire porch to remove loose paint, dirt, oil, and mildew.  I had to first remove ALL the porch furniture, the grill, trellis, plants, flowers, pots and other decor to the patio.  All that weight training has paid off -- that was some heavy-duty lifting!   This was pretty much an all-day event.  Things worth having take time, they say.   And patience.

"No great thing is created suddenly."

~ Epictetus

Saturday:  The base coat...x 2

Sunday:  Faux finishing begins.

... black, then dark golden glaze.

Actually, I would love to have left it solid red.  I loved the vibrancy of the red by itself, but being a

 high-traffic exterior surface, I knew that it would show EVERY footprint, scuff mark, and scratch that will inevitably happen.  

So all that's left to do:  

• Seal it with clear-coat, x 2 -- this will both seal it and add that wonderful "wet" look to the finish.  
• Wait 48 hours (at least) 
• Replace the furniture, grill, flowers, plants and pots  
• Add a few candles and collectibles
• Rehang the black/charcoal cheetah-print sheers
• Restring the lights along the dried honeysuckle vine (can't wait to see the reflection of the lights against the sheen of the red at night!)
• Then sit back and enjoy the new look.  

A week-long project, but worth the time and effort.

Painting and projects and designing and decorating and refinishing and building, rebuilding---it's all so rewarding to me, the creativity a rush of lifeblood to my innermost sense of contentment.  It's just another one of my passions.  Too bad I don't have the resources to FUND this passion more often and to a greater extent.  I do what I can.  And what little I do brings me happiness.  

And that's rewarding enough. 

"Create your own visual style...

let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others."

~ Orson Welles

The Traveler's Gift

I recently just finished reading a book loaned to me by a friend,

  "The Traveler's Gift," 

by Andy Andrews.

"A Little Treasure of Wisdom for Life."

This is a must read.

Everyone should read this book.  

Everyone. 

Just do it.

I want to buy a copy for everyone I know 

and insist that they read it.

I give it a:

One of the "inside cover" reviews:

I have already decided that I'm buying each of my sons a copy of this book.  And it will be on my list for "hard to buy for people."  You just can't lose with this one.

Countdown to Intermission

Less than a month away .... I'm counting the days.
C O U N T I N G -- T H E -- D A Y S...
until we leave for magical Marco Island, my beloved home away from home.

We've been vacationing on the island since 1986, and pieces of my heart and soul have been left buried inextricably beneath the surf, sand and sea.

Marco Island on the Gulf of Mexico...
I can smell it.  I can see it.  I can feel it.  I can hear it.  I can taste it.

Listen?  Hear it, T?  The waves, the birds, the laughter, the music....it's TANGIBLE to me.

Though we had very mild weather this winter, without question this has been the longest, darkest winter of my life for reasons that are not absolutely clear to me.  I'm so in need of an escape.  HOW I NEED AN ESCAPE.  It's time past time for vacation.

And so I dream...

and remember friendships...

It's time to reflect on happier times with those I love ...

and send "stress and responsibility" a message...

...eat, drink, and be [very] merry...

Ahh, yes...ticking

away

the 

days

and hours

and minutes

.....till....

Just Let Go

..

It's okay, 
she urged.
Just let go.

Tightly gripping
tentative releasing,
steadying now
and then
aching to breathe again,
yearning to soar again
feigning courage
to stand tall
or not at all.

Just let go.

Wanting
so desperately
to just let go.


Wanting
so desperately 
to abandon the fears
and weight of uncertainty,
gathering strength with each labored breath
each step
toward autonomy.
Grieving the spirit to fly
even cry
openly and without shame
or smile genuinely
or laugh deeply
live unpretentiously 
spontaneously
love breathlessly
again,
embrace life
again,
to withstand
what comes before
and after
when knowing when to let go
and go solo
takes courage.

It’'s scary to look down,
after holding on for so long,
when holding on 
or playing it safe
is all you know--
but to let go
suddenly seems
so right.

Finding the fortitude
and trust in oneself
enough
to say
it's okay.
Just let go.
~T

I don't know about you, but ...

... BRING IT ON!

The weekend, that is!

I left the office early, grabbed some groceries, zipped home (a little heavy-footed - yikes!), and now I'm headed out to sun on the patio.  AND I feel a writing urge coming on... a poem.  Go figure...the words are just in my brain, my heart, and I can't let this moment escape.  When it's there, ya gotta act on it.

So.  I'll take a note pad and see what flows (besides wine).