Small Reflections: favorite things

(Thanks to Betty for this nifty Fun Monday graphic)

Sauntering Soul is hosting Fun Monday today.
She writes: I know we all try to be sweet and kind to people the majority of the time. But let's face it....we also know that sometimes we can be a big jerk. It could be that you experience road rage from time to time. Perhaps you empty the coffee pot at work some mornings and don't feel like taking the time to start a new pot for the next person. Or maybe you don't return phone calls on a timely basis when you know someone needs a response from you. Have you ever "accidentally" ruined a favorite shirt of your spouse just because you didn't care for it? Come on - it's confession time! List the small things you do that make you a jerk and elaborate just a bit on each one. Please tell me I'm not the only jerk around here!

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Disclaimer:
I signed up yesterday to participate (before I tried to write something) then got busy posting on my other blog ... eventually running out of time to create my Fun Monday post last night. This morning I stared at the blinking cursor a long time before deciding 'poetry' might be my only hope ... and here's the result. It's a little after 7:35am and I'm out of time ... so it's either 'dump it' and tell Sauntering Soul to remove my link from the list ... (sharing the 'Mug Meme' I did create yesterday that's in the 2nd half of this post) or publish & let it be. Decisions ... decisions ;--)

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Once upon a time I was
'jerkier' than now because
I knew I was right about
everything ... I had no doubt!

Actually (if truth be told)
my 'facade' looked brave & bold
but beneath the surface my
actions served to justify

my existence here on earth.
Long ago my 'truth' and mirth
were 'discounted' ... labeled as
'Pollyanna-ish.' It has

taken me a long time to
recognize this 'fact' and do
what I can to remember
who I am and why I'm here.

I could argue 'my case' and
'win' with ease! Please understand ...
'offense' seemed the best 'defense'
and I could be quite intense!

Worried I might 'disappear'
if not 'mirrored' ... I let fear
shape my choices throughout life
even in the role of 'wife.'

Only when 'the worst' did not
kill me after all ... forgot-
ten resources surfaced to
point 'the way.' So now I do

what I can, releasing fear
purposefully ... trusting clear
intuition from within
... powering my life. Chagrin

once caused me embarrassment
at how I was 'different' ...
but these days I've learned to be
more comfortable 'as me'

and although I hold some 'strong'
opinions (which might be wrong)
I can 'share' and 'listen' too ...
without forcing 'thoughts' on you ;--)

Click for other participants in Fun Monday this week.

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Favorite Mug Meme

Tagged by Phyl a while back ...
I've had this one on the 'back burner' for a while
since learning of Lois' Meme ...
I don't seem to be able
to decide on just
one!

Here are a few of my favorites
in my rather extensive mug collection.

but truth be told
the two mugs below get used
most regularly ... the 'ceramic Starbuck's mug'
for my 1st cup while the Cuisinart Brewer finishes
and the taller stainless steel mug for the next
because it keeps my coffee
hot a long time.

I tend to use the other mugs primarily
for 'tea' in the afternoons and/or
hot chocolate in the evenings.

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If you decide to participate, please leave a link and/or
respond in comments below so I can visit ...
and take a copy of this Friendship
Award with my blessing.

Here are 'the rules' according to Phyl who writes:
"Alas, there is a new meme in Blogland...and you know me...I gotta do this one...cause well, I am a coffee addict...lol. I found it here. Lois' Morning Mug Meme Rules: Most folks drink some sort of a morning beverage, be it coffee or tea, and most likely from a mug.

1. Please share a photo of your favorite mug(s).
2. Tell a story about how it became your favorite. Include what you drink with this mug.
3. Be sure to link to Lois and the person who tagged you for this meme!
4. Leave a comment for Lois so she can follow her meme.

Optional:
5. Signing Phyl's Mr. Linky will get you another point at Technorati & get you a return visit from her :)

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Thought for Today
"One ought every day at least to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Since I missed doing this topic (I only recently learned about this weekly posting idea) and because I don't watch many movies at all these days (in fact I don't even really know what movies are 'out there' to watch) ... but I want to participate today in this meme (and have some trouble following rules) ...

Here are 10 Things I Love

1. Friends in the real & virtual worlds.

2. Coffee in the morning

Can you find the face hidden in the coffee beans?
(Read more about this at Joy's)

3. Lol Cats 'n' Funny Pics
(check it out for yourself)

4. Long walks in beautiful places.

5. Funny emails from my friends

This one arrived with the caption, "I can't respond to my emails
because something crashed on my computer."

6. A sense of humor about growing older.

7. Watching Competitive Tennis!!!!!

8. Giraffes
This is a baby named Margaret
when she was just hours old.

See another picture of Margaret
(and a few more things I love) here.

9. Puppies of all kinds!

(See more in my 'A Puppy a Day' box
in my sidebar below).

10. Glorious sunsets over the ocean.

So ... now I'll go see what I'm supposed to do with this post
to let others know it's here, and I'll visit to meet
other bloggers who participate.

Click for more participating in Ten on Tuesday.

Hmmm .. now that I think of it,
this post might qualify as a Tuesday version
of Wordless Wednesday too!

Click for more participating in Wordless Wednesday