Where does it go?

Mine is not the first generation to notice that time speeds up as you grow older...
It is hard to believe that my last post was pretty much done during hurricane season, but here I sit, having just been to the fire department Christmas party and my big charity event for the year. Mid-December, where did the time go?
Oh, oh...one big place it went in the last few months is (I am ashamed to admit) is Facebook! Well, it is wonderful seeing faces and names that I have not pulled to my frontal lobe in decades...but as the lists grew with faces and old memories, my spark diminished. I found myself reading things I did not care about, answering stupid questions and surveys and owning 2 farms, an apartment along with a diner. The timers clicked and I burnt cookies and killed crops, my request lists grew and I was not a good friend or neighbor! I think I may be in a lawsuit over the yoville apartment due to not baking enough! Man, I was a goner for about 3 months. I literally had to do an intervention and limit my time on the computer!
I still enjoy checking in and seeing photo's and clever comments from my friends and family, but I have been able to "step away" from the Facebook and use it as a tool for my life, and learned not to make it my life!
So, as fast as the world spins, as much work as we have to do in order to eat and keep a roof over head...it is best to pay attention before you get sucked into a world that overwhelms and encircles you. Don't let life pass you by with your face glued to a computer or a tv...your real life is sitting right beside you just waiting for you to take it out for a spin!

To tie it all up, just understand that if time sped up for the generations before us, what is going to happen to our concepts of time passing when there are so many strong means of distraction! Look at those loved ones around you everyday, make an effort to talk and hug and make sure your time is not being sucked up my meaningless, trival undertakings.

Okay, stepping away now...have a great day!

Been There, Done That, Got the Tee-Shirt!

Ironically, no statement could be more true today. Although...who would have thought that this catchy phrase, used for some of life's more fun activities could apply to a hurricane. Not just any hurricane, but so far as modern history, THE HURRICANE...Katrina.

As I sit here in my electric green tee-shirt that counts me in as a Katrina survivor (it makes jokes of the hiked prices of living essentials on the backside), I have to make an entry for the anniversary of this devastation's 4 year passing.

I have no personal photos of this event, there was not time nor thought of a camera. I did not capture the destruction or the eradication of most of my physical life's history. I am still in shock as everything from my grammar school in New Orleans, to the church's in my local area that are gone. My Junior High, my high school...places that I took as things that would be here forever to show my grandchildren, they are all gone.

Last night, I found myself on the Gulf Coast, riding the beach and returning to my hometown via the old highway, Hwy. 90. It was a cooler night than normal for August in the deep south. Windows down, rain storm behind me, I marveled at the moon in the sky. Pale orange and sometimes hidden by storm clouds it guided me through the road less travel, actually it never let me out of it's site... I suddenly recalled the date and the earlier conversations of the day regarding significance of the anniversary of "K". I was overwhelmed by the calm and beauty that I was surrounded with on this ride and then, in my mind, I thought about what it would have been like at this exact time 4 years ago. No moon for sure, high winds whipping the swamp grass and pushing water everywhere; the roads, hopefully deserted...animals running for cover. I tried to think about what I would have been doing at this exact time, while the storm would be approaching. It brought me back to the entire day that Katrina rolled in us on. I had spent most of the night before packing up the house and getting things ready for my stay at work at the fire department. All of us who stayed behind, had mountains of things to do, lined up right next the the mountains of worries regarding our families and friends who were out on the road seeking a safe harbor. We were scared for ourselves, as we remained behind the throngs of people escaping...this is the one we have dreaded for our entire careers, we knew it could be the end for us, but we never kept that thought, we had work to do.
After my packing, I saw my last family member pull away...that was a huge relief, to know that all I had to worry about now was work and my coworkers. I dressed in jeans and fire department tee shirt, packed the car and drove away from my little cedar house. It was a cute place with a million pine trees 50 ft. tall, these trees shaded my house in the summer and gave me a "country" feeling in my little neighborhood. I wished it well and drove the few miles down the road to my church, it was time for 7 o'clock mass, I could not think of a better time to be there.
The church was right next to the bayou, it was brick and stained glass. It was a place that I had come to over the years... sometimes alone, sometimes with family. My second husband, who died of cancer, use to get up and come here for early mass and leave me sleeping in a warm bed, (guess I should have not slept so much). Midnight mass for Christmas with Bill and Liv, sitting in the pew for joy or comfort, this church was a refuge to many. The scenic bayou would end up overtaking the building, which is now gone. I knelt and and prayed for all of us... I left and headed to work, in the rain with storm clouds rolling over my head.
During my ride last night, I wondered about natures fury. I have always been fascinated by weather, storms are exciting! If you could view the impact and actions from a protective bubble high in the sky, what you would see would be unfathomable. After Katrina, when I rode in our area and viewed piles of debris left banked in places by the outgoing tide, I kept recalling a phrase from a junior high science book, "Water is a powerful force". Ah yeah, you can say that again!
Still on my ride last night, the breeze blew in and tousled my hair as I gazed at my surrounds, picturing the aftermath and knowing how blessed that I was to still be here; not only living through the storm but somehow living through the effects that are so long lasting. Everyday, if you really look, there are many signs to show you what has happened to us. I think that most of us just do what we can and have in many ways not even begun to let in the full terror of what we have experienced.

Today, it is just me and my tee-shirt, with a few words on a computer that can never express the fear, hurt, amazement, nor finally the joy of survival, that we all live with everyday!
There are many more stories and pictures that I can and will paint for this, the STORM of 2005!
God Bless all of those who did not survive and pray for all of us who felt the effects of this and the many other trials that can shape our lives and days....

The World From a Different Angle...

http://www.osei.noaa.gov/index.html

Check out this website if you are interested in some diverse views of the planet or are fascinated by images of the weather going on around us.

You can subscribe to get the imagery of the day!

What is Right with Julie & Julia

As a man walks down the street he is forcibly stopped by an attacker, a robber on a city street. This despicable character, dressed in dark clothes who reeks of sweat and breathes very harshly with more than a hint of whiskey on his breath...shows a glint of a knife blade to intimidate. He roughly pats the poor bastard down and barks for him to remove his watch and wedding band! He yanks the wallet from a back pocket and shoves the victim to the ground. As he runs away with his "take", he turns and yells to the bruised and defeated man, "Got any dreams, 'cause I'll take those too!"



This is the image that comes to mind as I finish the article, "What is Wrong with Julie & Julia". How sad that some people cannot stand back and see a larger, more positive picture...what are you people thinking?



You say you were disgusted after you had a chance to "digest" the movies trailer. You express your dissatisfaction with the book, and I suppose the timing of this article was to end the thoughts of attendance for anyone who thought that they might enjoy the film!
Well, I am guessing the way to your "gullet" is not through your hearts, souls or your dreams!



I looked around in the soft light reflected from the big screen and I saw smiles, I heard people laughing and literally felt them wholeheartedly enjoying the sights and sounds of this movie.

I left the theater beaming, for I too laughed, learned and added a bit of hope to my ordinary life that afternoon.



Just to let you in on a bit of a secret, most of us mortals don't have an easy go of it; goals and dreams are set aside, forgotten or dashed as daily life takes it's toll and survival becomes the object of intention as well as routine.

Days can go by on an endless treadmill of work and chores, children, bills and problems. We do see glimmers of hope and love our families and our country, but those are not without endless commitment and disappointment also!



This sad little cubicle girl was someone who had an awful task, in dealing with 9/11 victims families and medical recovery. No, she was not a glamorous spy...no she has not been "international" in experience, nor had she been a successful writer until now. She is, however, a person who set a goal and worked toward an end even thought it was not easy (just like Julia, I might add).



It was wonderful to see the simple joys that were illustrated in this movie and this life of Julie's. A simple, eclectic feeling transcended the screen in the setting of a cheap apartment because of celebrations, life, family and friends! Small triumphs, simple pleasures are all that it took to make daily life more interesting! It makes me proud to see a real person challenge herself and go on a journey of commitment and discovery. Simply put, it makes me want to try harder.



Maybe Julia, who must have been overwhelmed in her life by those nasty people out there who tend to hurt and disappoint (or just maybe steal your dreams), sits in a better place now to view the pure human element in all of this. Perhaps, she smiles at the challenge or a chosen goal... the gumption and the persistence to overcome obstacles that she may have once faced. I wonder, if she can see just how awesome it is, to find a piece of yourself, even if the that "bit" of you begins with someone else's foundation.
Oh, what is that, ah...she did that, right?
"Mastering the Art of French Cooking", was born from another idea, someone else's start that she made truly her own. She was unique and often awkward; she was looking for her place in this world and lucky for all of us, she found it!



Bravo, Julia...

Bravo, Julie...



Bravo, to those of us out there who aspire to anything greater than our daily bread. I am presently reading the book, "My Life in France", by Julia Child, I follow Julie's blog and I am going to be purchasing a few cookbooks myself!



I am going to challenge myself to write and to look for more life in my day! I am going to drink wine and use my poor attempts to speak French. I will spend more time with friends and family and I am going to de-bone a duck... as scary as this may be to you my dear critics, I am going to have the audacity to laugh while doing it!



Bon Appetite!



Note: Since the release of this film, Julia Child's book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" was at number two on the national best-seller list.



http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/05/whats-wrong-with-julie-julia/

Fall « TeacherWriter.net

Fall « TeacherWriter.net

Awesome for those of you looking to test the literary water, or for those who just think they might have something interesting enough to win something!

Lots of contests, lots of story lines! Good luck and keep writing!

Belief

This website gives you much to think about...there are many interesting thougths and aspects of faith for everyone. Please check it out and see if you can find something to make your day meaningful~Namaste
http://www.beliefnet.com/

Buddist Artwork....

http://community.beliefnet.com/raiene-faewolf/gallery/view_gallery.one?pid=58156299&source=NEWSLETTER&ppc=72976&utm_campaign=Buddhist&utm_source=NL&utm_medium=newsletter

Since Feeling is First

http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~richie/poetry/html/poem162.html...

Just think, ponder, where does your mind take you?

Mary Frances, Mary Frances Handbags, Robin Clayton Designs, Mary Frances Purses, Mary Frances Bags

Mary Frances, Mary Frances Handbags, Robin Clayton Designs, Mary Frances Purses, Mary Frances Bags

I want one of these....so much. I almost used the wedding outfit as an excuse to purchase the "on sale" Heart bag.
Then the adult in me kicked in and I denied myself. I know, I know they are eclectic and hippy like, but then that is one of the things that makes me Julie!

I am going to save up for something special day and get one....

Take a Look Around...

You never know where you will find yourself...the world has truely become a crazy place and the days can really be tough. In all honestly we are a spec of dust in a universe of unfathomable size and mammoth time! So much so, that none of us can even comprehend it, some of us do try to understand...but by and large we rarely even stop to think of those facts.

We run around and worry about insignifigant things that etch frowny lines between our eyes, around our mouths...we are rude and insensitive, we scream in traffic, yell at our kids and judge others that we do not even know.

This cannot be right! Even if we pray, the solid connection that we may reverently feel as we utter the words is usually quickly terminated! Like snapping closed your cell phone at the end of the call; the signal is gone and we are off to the next "important" or frustrating thing.

Take a breath, give thanks, look around you! Understand that we are truely a miracle; in time and place, in spirit and potential...in the sheer amazement of the workings of our own minds and bodies. We are truely blessed and most of the time, we never even acknowledge that fact. Be thankful for all that you have in your life everyday...it is a gift!