Change

Today's quotation: Since we live in a changing universe, why do people oppose change? If a rock is in the way, the root of a tree will change its direction. The dumbest animals try to adapt themselves to changed conditions. Even a rat will change its tactics to get a piece of cheese. Melvin B. Tolson

Today's Meditation: Change is one of the most wonderful aspects of our lives, and if we can embrace change, we can embrace life itself. Another side to that idea, though, is that until we can embrace change, we cannot embrace life itself. We have been given a wonderful gift in the ability to adapt, and it's important that we take advantage of that ability. Unfortunately, many of us have been taught consistently that change is somehow "bad," and we do our best to avoid change in the more important aspects of our lives. This avoidance leads us to hold on to situations such as jobs that make us unhappy or marriages that simply aren't working, all in order to avoid the unknown results that change will bring us. But the people I've known who have been laid off from work have almost always found work just as rewarding or even more so; most of the people I know who have left damaging relationships have found very positive ones later (unless they hook up with someone just like the other person, but that's a different story!). The world changes constantly. The patterns of heat and cold on this planet consistently shift, bringing us ice ages and times of great heat. These shifts happen even without our "help" from global warming. Animals evolve, adapting to their environments. We change our clothes, we change our homes, we change our minds. Our tastes change, our desires change, and our beliefs change. If we want to be completely stagnant and never change at all, then we have our work cut out for us, for that's hardly possible. Change is for us to embrace and to learn from, and as we adapt to changes in our lives we grow as people, and we grow into different people. And our lives become much richer for all the changes we go through.

Questions to consider: What kinds of changes do you love? What kinds do you dread? Why do you dread them? What are the results of being resistant to change? Does that stop changes from happening? Does it help us? How can we get the most out of the changes that happen in our lives?

For further thought: It seems necessary to completely shed the old skin before the new, brighter, stronger, more beautiful one can emerge. . . . I never thought I'd be getting a life lesson from a snake. Julie Ridge This is the time of year when everyone begins to make their lists of changes, or resolutions, for the next year. It's the time when many start to talk about what they will and will not do in the coming months. I used to be one of those people. I tried to make my lists and tried to steer the path of change that I wished to see. At the same time I also used to fight other change. I hated change. Despised when things did not go the way that I thought they should. I had a very difficult time when situations would crop up that I did not expect. I liked things to flow in a static manner. I got over that a few years ago and feel so much better for it. I am free from any and all expectations. I just go with the natural flow of life. Shit happens and I do what I need for any particular scenario. I'm like a duck...letting it roll off my back. I will be looking at 2011 without any kind of list and just letting the change come as it will. It happens, I don't need to encourage it.

Family, Friends and Dog....Oh My!!

Hard to believe the end of the year is just around the corner. It sucks that we could not make it through to the end without getting sick, This sucks. I'm not sure if hubby brought it back or he got it from me, but we are both sick right now. It is there first time that I have called off work in four years, so I have to be sick!

Thrilled to have made it through the holidaze with my mom and get her home. She was excited beyond belief that we gave her a flat screen. She is a sports nut and could not wait to watch her basketball and college football.

Some of our good friends came by and played some euchre and had a few holiday beverages. Most of us play for fun, but my mom actually is one of those people who can count cards. I really need to get her to Vegas.

Son was home all week as well and did some bonding with the pup as we all did. Poor dog....she was out of the kennel more than usual and she was exhausted. She is also not used to this many people and activity. After the new year it will be back to normal for her. Hubby goes back to the office on the 4th. They say a trip to Ireland may happen before going back to Brazil.

For now I am sipping a latte that I made for myself in the espresso machine that Santa brought me.

Hope and wish all the best for you and yours in 2011.

Holiday Party Time

Last night was the first party of this holiday season. Boy, did I need it! I did not realize how long it had been since I had been able to have a glass of wine with these friends, talk politics, play charades and just plain catch up. It felt great!

Naturally there was some awesome food involved. Another good part of this time of year. My friend James has this party every year and he has the most spectacular all stainless steal kitchen. He is renowned for his homemade holiday cider mix that simmers on the stove all night and fills the home with such a delighful aroma. Cloves, cinnamon and apples...mmmmmmm.

Loving this holiday season!

Happy Holidaze

Hope everyone enjoys their time with family & friends.

Baby is Growing Up

Tomorrow Cady will be 4 months old. She has gone from cute and cuddly puppy in to a dog. Complete with long spindly legs and energy worthy of the Energizer Bunny! At the vet yesterday we find we have hit the 35 pound mark. I have a hard time picking her up and am thankful that she has gotten trained and there isn't much need for me to try and pick her up!

She is operating under the delusion that she is a small lap dog and loves to ride, in the car, in the rear window. When we get in that is the first place she goes. Needless to say it will soon be difficult to see around her. Passing motorists find it quite amusing.

Maybe it's because I am older, maybe because I am spending more quality time training this one, but it seems as though she & I have developed such a loving relationship. She is so much more loving than our last Golden seemed. Maybe it is because hubby is gone and she and I are just bonding so much more. No matter.....I am loving it.

Our morning routine begins between 4 and 5 AM. I usually work early and want her to be fed and outside when I leave. So I always take her out and put birdseed out at the same time. You know, multitasking.

There was plenty of snow and it was COLD!! I was in my slippers and robe. Just thought that it would take a few secs. As I approached the feeder I slipped in the snow and fell into a snow bank! My hands and feet were totally soaked and cold. Naturally she thought we were going to play and while I was on the ground she got all fisky and was running around me. I was trying to curse in a whisper since it was the wee morning hours! Finally got in and dumped the snow out of my slippers.

I'm sure I'll do it again. It's a long winter.

An Anniversary

I was living in Fort Worth and attending UTA part time when John Lennon was killed.

I was living with a boyfriend and we had gone to bed with the TV on. I just happened to wake up and that particular news story was on. It really crushed me. John was my favorite. Even though I did not grow up with the Beatles I appreciated and loved the music. The White Album a lifetime fave.

Lennon's solo work was my favorite of all the solo Beatles. To me his stuff was/is timeless. Something that crossed all time and eras and genres.

A few years ago there was a cd with some of his greatest work. I listened to it for weeks!! With the holidays here they often play his,"So This is Christmas", and it is one of my fave holiday songs.

I will always regret that we did not get to see what else he might have accomplished.

Girls, Wine, Cheese and Alcoholic Flavored Whip Cream

The four of us have been trying to get together for a year. We finally found a night when all of us could do it!! There is a quaint little wine place near me, and two of them had never been there, and we all love wine. We are also very passionate about cheese!!

It was such a great time catching up as we have all done so many things and had many experiences this past year.

We started off with a nice red zin and five cheese with friut and salami. The salami was actually made with a pinot grigio. We had a bottle of that next. Awesome food and conversation. We ended up being there for four hours.

We capped it off with coffee & Bailey's with a flavored alcoholic whipped cream. I had raspberry and two had chocolate and one vanilla. Delicious!! Next time I will have the chocolate. It was by far the best.

That is one thing about good friends; no matter the time between you can pick up right where you left off.

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