Welcome to Small Reflections


"Nothing is ever achieved without enthusiasm."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Duck photo source: Lisa's Chaos
I hope you enjoy your visit. If you're looking for something specific, check out the links to posts by category in my sidebar and down a ways. They'll assist with tracking down different types of posts found on each of my three blogs. You might also enjoy checking out the other sites: Sacred Ruminations, Blog Rolls, Bling & Blurbs, and Happily Retired Gal.

I hope you'll look around & leave comments
then visit me at my new blog ...

Giraffe Journal

and/or website ... Labyrinth Journal
both self-hosted at WordPress
where I publish as myself
rather than under a
pseudonym.

I've not had much time for posting or blog visits, but if you're interested I hope you'll find time to check out my new blog, Giraffe Journal or my Labyrinth Journal website ... both self hosted at WordPress.

Thanks for your visit and have a delightful day ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Ten On Tuesday #3 - Surprise!


Caveat - Since I prefer to remain 'A Nonny Mouse' ... (and because I'm late to the party)... I've decided to take some liberties today and skip over today's topic in favor of a different prompt because I love 'gratitude' posts and haven't done one here for a while.

10 Things I Love
(from February 19th)

1. Family, friends and neighbors. Connecting with others, sharing our lives, participating in enjoyable activities together, catching up on the phone, and just 'being there' for one another is essential for mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

2. My 3 year old Labrador Retriever, Molly. She's such a joyful, enthusiastic fur-friend that won't take 'no' for an answer for long ... thus she keeps me active & healthily 'moving' in the real world when I might spent too much sedentary time in other leisurely pursuits. Of course, Ms. Kitty holds a special place in my heart as well.

2. Books (and reading) of all kinds ... fiction & non ... poetry & prose. Settling down with a good 'read' is so much more satisfying to me than watching television or movies!

3. Writing daily in my journals and here on my blogs ... and, of course, visiting other bloggers as time permits ... commenting when I have something to add to the conversation.

4. Retired Life - The freedom to choose each day how I wish to spend my time is a delightfully unexpected surprise. I'm filled with gratitude that CalSTRS required teachers to contribute to retirement throughout our careers and that my needs are simple so I can live comfortably on a lot less money that I used to.

5. The ocean is such a 'stabilizing' force in my world. I'm grateful to live close enough to hear & smell it even when I'm not right there walking along and/or sitting at the beach ... taking in the view.

6. Gardening - even though I don't have the 'greenest thumb' ... spending time planting, nurturing, pulling weeds, and enjoying the fruits of my labors has become a special part of my daily routine.

7. Learning new things all the time keeps me mentally stimulated and happy. In addition, I love to share with others and help them when I'm able to pass along information and/or help them resolve problems.

8. My laptop - and all things associated with it ... not the least of which is the connections it permits with others in the real and 'virtual' worlds.

9. Getting my hair cut (or permed) when it's driving me crazy ... and that's something I'm doing today ;--)

10. Finding comments after my posts ... so please say 'howdy' ... okay?

Thanks for visiting!
(FYI -- I shared awards yesterday,
so you might want to check that post too)

Thought for Today
"You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you." Brian Tracy

Click if you missed my Ultimate Blog Party post
I've got freshly squeeze lemonade
and snacks ;--)

Click for more participating in Ten on Tuesday.
In case you want to play along
(and aren't blogging anonymously like me)
...
this week's topic is actually
10 Places You'd Take a Tourist to See in Your Hometown

23 comments:

Maude Lynn said...

Excellent list! It seems that we love many of the same things!

Unknown said...

Great change of topic! It's so helpful to our attitudes when we list our "gratitudes."

Have a great Tuesday! Thanks for visiting today!

Betty said...

I'll be back to read your posting for today. Right now I just want to say I'll post about and acknowledge the awards you gave me in another post. Right now I'm going to get a much needed perm.

Amanda said...

great list. Happy Tuesday

Mary said...

Love your list of gratitudes. We have so much to be thankful for. I have Meeko to keep me moving and I also love reading. I read for at least an hour every night before bed.

Take care and thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Mary

storyteller said...

Mama Zen – Thanks. I suspect lots of us ‘de-stress and relax’ in similar ways.

Heather – I appreciate your acceptance of my change of topic today. Gratitude posts are my favorites. After reading everyone else’s ‘Tuesday’ lists today, it occurs to me that I could have interpreted the prompt more ‘generally’ … and suggested interesting places to visit in the greater LA/Orange County area. Maybe I’ll do that another time. I notice next week’s prompt is about ‘marriage’ and methinks there’s nothing that would get me to consider marrying again … period.

Betty – Hey … I’d take off to get my hair permed too if it was time … in fact, I’ll be getting my hair cut this afternoon. Nothing much keeps me away from such ‘important stuph’ as my hair ;--)

Amanda – Thanks and Happy Tuesday to you too!

Mary – Thank you, and you’re right of course. We have much to be thankful for.

I appreciate you all visiting today and sharing your thoughts here.
Hugs and blessings,

Akelamalu said...

Great list you have there!

Yolanda said...

I loved this list and we share many of the same interests. You are always a bright spot in my day.

Momisodes said...

A lovely list. I share your love for the ocean. I've never lived very far from one all my life. Having a laptop is wonderful too :) I had no idea about CalSTRS contributing to retirement. That is great!

Teena in Toronto said...

Nice switcheroo!

I played too ... come check out Toronto :)

PJ said...

Aah! The ocean. I love the smell of the ocean. Did I mention I live in a landlocked state right in the middle of the U.S.A???? There's always vacation!

Joyce said...

Once upon a time, long ago, I lived in Chula Vista. I so enjoyed the ocean breezes. :) So glad you get to enjoy the ocean!

I just finished reading a book you might like (speaking of loving to read): The View from Saturday by E.L Konigsburg. Or have you already read it?

Mike Golch said...

storyteller,you have gone and done it again,posted an excelent list of several I share with you.You have to guess which ones.I'm makeing it fun arnt I.

Karen said...

Good list--good life!

storyteller said...

Akelamalu – Thanks ;--)

Yolanda – I’m a ‘bright spot in your day?’ What a lovely thought to share.

Sandy – Actually, what I was referring to was the fact that CalSTRS takes a significant chunk of money off the top of teacher’s monthly paychecks from day one and invests it … so teachers do the actual contributing; however, way back when I started (and possibly even now though I don’t know how things work currently) School Districts contributed alongside the individual teachers. If I’d had the choice at 21, I might opted to have my ‘full paycheck’ and ‘control my own investments’ …(I was raised by a Dutch mom ya know)… but I suspect I’m better off having let them invest my money for me. I retired at 53% of what I was earning in 2000 (not a huge sum of money, but enough for my needs)… and that’s what I live on today. If I live much longer, I'm sure I'll be collecting money I didn't actually 'contribute' and/or 'earn' in interest ... and without that I'd most likely be 'working' in some capacity to augment my pension today. I may need to do that at some point anyway, but for now I live frugally and enjoy my leisurely life. ;--)

Teena – I’m relieved no one seems to mind that I switched topics, and I’ll be there to check your list once I finish dealing with email, responding to comments, and figure out what I’m going to post here this morning.

PJ – I suspect that I’d have a hard time living away from the ocean after living right here for so long. (Yes, I'm spoiled and I know it).

Joyce – I know Chula Vista … it’s a few hours South. I’ve not read that one yet, and appreciate the recommendation. Currently I’m focused on reading the stack of books that have accumulated since I started blogging 5 months ago … but I’ll add this one to my list for future acquisitions.

Mike – I suspect many of us ‘older folks’ have many things in common … and you always do make it fun ;--)

Karen – Yup … it’s definitely a good life! When I started teaching in the late 1960s I had no clue I’d be living such a low-key, amazing 'retired' life today. I am blessed and most grateful every day!

I took yesterday afternoon and evening off from blogging to run a bunch of errands, do a favor for my sister, and get my hair cut … so I’m playing ‘catch up’ this morning. Usually by now I’ve posted something ‘Wordless’ … but I’ve not even giving a thought to what I’m going to share here today. Thanks to all of you for stopping by. I hope you’re having a wonderful week!
Hugs and blessings,

Unknown said...

Oh, i just love the positive stuff and things you enjoy are fun. You wonderful ;)

Hootin Anni said...

Gosh darn!!! I could have written this list myself. We're two peas in a pod. <--Does THIS count as a quote? Okay....can't blame a girl for trying. :::giggles:::

storyteller said...

Chuck – Why thanks Rhonda!
I’m wondering what’s up because there’s no T-13 today after nothing yesterday either. I sure hope all’s well with you. Ya never did share about the party and I’m still hoping for pictures of that outfit ;--)

Hootin’ Anni – Cool! I’ll take that as another huge compliment. Whatever you want to count as a ‘quote’ counts … seriously! LOL

Thanks to each of you for stopping by and making my day by leaving your comments. Hope you’re both having a wonderful week.
Hugs and blessings,

Anonymous said...

I love your ten on Tuesday, such a great list.

Tina Coruth said...

Howdy, Storyteller!

That is a wonderful list. :-)

hugs,
Tina

storyteller said...

Beach Mama and Tina
I’m happy you think so, and thanks to you both for stopping by ;--).
Hugs and blessings,

Mercedes said...

I found you~woohoo! Thanks for the update on your site! Great list of 10 things you love! I believe I am right there with you on most of these things. I am not retired, nor do I garden, and I so want a laptop! Thanks for visiting my tour of my town!

storyteller said...

Mercedes - I’m glad you found me too! I use Track co.moments (when I remember) to follow up with others who (like me) leave responses on their own blogs … so that’s how I discovered the original link was faulty. I enjoy meeting new bloggers and will visit you again as time permits, though this weekend … I’m watching TENNIS! (My T-13 and Haiku Friday posts provide details).
Hugs and blessings,

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