Haiku Friday Volume 15 - Celebrating Life

Yesterday I went
to a local restaurant
with my two best friends.

Celebrating my
birthday early, Carol's late
as we always do

with an ocean view.
Wine and bread to start the meal ...
Hula pie to end.

In between my 'fav' ...
Seven spice Ahi with boc
choi & mango ... YUM!

Memories of this
and our visit afterwards
back at Carol's house

sipping tea are with
me this morning as I sit
typing this Haiku.

Yet tomorrow is
February 23rd,
day that I was born

1945
so I will be sixty-three!
Happily retired

I've been now for years,
doing mainly what I choose ...
grateful every day.

Memories and plans
running freely in my mind
as I simplify

clearing clutter out ...
making room for only those
things I love around

me ... creating a
place of joy to celebrate
as I live each day.

Possibilities!
Who knows what this rainy morn
holds in store for me?

What I know for sure
is I plan to celebrate
and enjoy it all!

For a Mr. Linky to other Haiku Fridays
go to A Mommy Story.

Click for Haiku Friday Volume 14.

To see my previous Haikus,
click on the Haiku Friday label below this post.

Thought for Today
"If people did not do silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done." Ludwig Wittgenstein

Thursday Thirteen #13 Amazing Origami

Did you get to see the lunar eclipse last night?
I worried I miss it because of clouds and rain
in Southern California yesterday ...
but the skies cleared enough
to watch the whole show.
Awesome indeed!

Thirteen Amazing Examples of Origami 'Critters'

Recently I received an email with the following amazing images that seem interesting enough to share as a T-13 today. Apparently, "Last year, Simithsonian Magazine had a major article about origami and the incredible number of folds that can be made on a single small piece of paper like a dollar bill. Computer Program are also used to identify the number and location of folds for 'Olympic level folders' ... "

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

One

Two

Three

Four

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

Thought for Today
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." Thomas Jefferson

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Get the Thursday Thirteeen code here!

For easy access, I’ve listed more T-13 links along with the
Thursday Thirteen Blogroll to the bottom of my sidebar.

To see more of my T-13s ,
click on Thursday Thirteen in labels below.

Wordless Wednesday - Spring Flowers

Go to Flickzzz:Flowers for more lovely floral images.

Photobucket Meme

I found this meme at Thoughts from Miller Manor this morning and thought it would be a good way to teach myself about Photobucket.

Directions:
1. Answer the questions below.
2. Take each answer and type it into the search bar at Photobucket.
3. Take a picture from the first page of results and post the html code under the image.

(Uh oh ... I blew it ... sigh! I saved the photos to my computer by mistake because I didn't read carefully, but I'm going to go ahead and post this now. Perhaps I'll fix it later ... or not).

If you do this meme, you can benefit from MY mistake. If you want to see it done correctly, click on the link to Miller Manor above.

Age on my next birthday

Place I want to travel

Favorite place to be

Favorite food

Favorite animal

Favorite color

Where I was born

Where I live

Past name of a previous pet

Nickname/Screen name

Middle name

Last name - I'm passing on this one for now anyway

Bad habit

Well ... methinks that's the best I'm going to be able to manage, at least for the time being. If this looks like something you'd enjoy doing, I invite you to do so ... then please leave a link so I can see your answers. If I'd broken any laws, I apologize and plead ignorance since this is my 1st attempt to access Photobucket and didn't have a clue how it works.

Thought for Today
"Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life." David M. Burns

Monday Motivator and More

Monday Motivator
(with thanks to Yertle at Smile, Play, Dream
for this marvelous Monday idea)

"It isn't for the moment
you are stuck that you need courage,
but for the long uphill climb
back to sanity and faith and security."
Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"I nurture a faithful heart. When difficulties, sorrow, and trials beset me, I consciously choose faith in the face of despair. Like the mountain climber who reaches the summit a step at a time, I hold an ideal in my heart. Despite the temptation to bitterness, despite the seduction of rage, I choose a path of temperate endurance, grounding my daily life in the small joys yet available to me. Learning from the natural world, I harbor the seeds of hope against the long winter. I count the small stirrings of beauty and delight still present in a barren time. My heart is a seasoned traveler. Moving through hostile and unfamiliar terrain it remains alert to encounter unexpected beauty blossoming despite the odds. In the arms of adversity, I yet find the comfort of tenderness to myself and others. I refuse to harbor a hardened heart. Decisively and deliberately. I expand rather than contract.

Today I choose the softening grace of forgiveness. I allow the sunlight of the spirit to reach my shadowed heart."

from TRANSITIONS by Julia Cameron

More from Me

Yes, I did this yesterday
but just this morning I
happened on this Blogthing
and could not resist. Oh my!
Does that mean I am addicted
after all to these?
Is there a pill I might take
to cure this dread disease?

Will you like me anyway
or does this spell the end
of your visits to my blog?
I need to know, my friend.
Should I seek out rehab
or let this habit run
until I discover other
ways to have some fun?

WHAT AGE DO YOU ACT?
Considering I'll be 63 in just 5 days, 27 seems good to ME!

You Act Like You Are 27 Years Old

You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel like an adult, and you're optimistic about life. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. You're still figuring out your place in the world and how you want your life to shape up. The world is full of possibilities, and you can't wait to explore many of them.

What Age Do You Act?

If this isn't to your liking
there are three below
in my Sunday post to choose from.
Please feel free to go
on and read the poetry I
shared there too, and then
let your fingers type a comment.
Let me call you "friend".

After that you're more than welcome
to peruse and take
a "surprise" from Saturday.
Just give this gal a break!
Make my day by sharing something
interesting & new.
Then we'll both be happier
'cuz I can visit YOU!

Thought for Today
"When humor goes, there goes civilization." Irma Bombeck

Silly Sunday Poetry and Something to Do

Sunday's coming to a close
and I've not posted yet!
So I've found three Blogthings
in the hopes that I can get
visitors to make a choice
(or maybe do all three)
posting the results in comments
for us all to see.

One is quick - a single question
how can you resist?
Three determines who's an opti-
mist or pessimist.
As for two, it's fundamental.
Which mark you might be
will remain a question unless
you decide to see.


ONE - The World's Shortest Personality Test

Your Brain's Pattern

Your brain is always looking for the connections in life. You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first. You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker. You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?


TWO - What Punctuation Mark are YOU?

You Are a Question Mark

You seek knowledge and insight in every form possible. You love learning. And while you know a lot, you don't act like a know it all. You're open to learning you're wrong. You ask a lot of questions, collect a lot of data, and always dig deep to find out more. You're naturally curious and inquisitive. You jump to ask a question when the opportunity arises. Your friends see you as interesting, insightful, and thought provoking. (But they're not always up for the intense inquisitions that you love!) You excel in: Higher education You get along best with: The Comma

What Punctuation Mark Are You?



THREE - Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist?
I was neither!

You Are a Realist

You don't see the glass as half empty or half full. You see what's exactly in the glass. You never try to make a bad situation seem better than it is... But you also never sabotage any good things you have going on. You are brutally honest in your assessments of situations - and this always seems to help you cope.

Are You An Optimist or Pessimist?

Now that you've seen my results,
won't you share as well?
We've no need for secrets here
so just do them and tell!
Or if you would rather post
the answers on your blog
leave a link so I can follow
up ... and dialog.

I'm sorry ... it's growing late and I'm hungry
so my mind isn't working so well.

Be sure to check out Saturday Surprises if you haven't done so, and thanks for visiting (whether or not you play along).

Saturday Surprises

I do realize that Valentine's Day has come & gone so I'm late with these, but it seems "the hurrieder I go the behinder I get" no matter what. Today I'm choosing to subscribe to the "better late than never" theory, so please bear with me.

Mary passed along these Valentine Awards (created & bestowed upon her by Hootin' Anni) along at her Writing Nook to her friends and, I'd like to share them with mine. It's still February ... so I plan to add them to my sidebar and enjoy them throughout the remainder of the month before moving them to an awards page I've been meaning to create. I hope you enjoy them too, albeit belatedly.



At the same time, Mary initiated the following award to share with "a few people who have touched her heart in a special way."
I'm honored to be included among the recipients of this lovely treasure and I'd like to share it with the following friends here in the virtual world (listed alphabetically). I've got my fingers crossed than I didn't leave anyone out. I appreciate your visits to my blogs and enjoy my visits to yours. In just a few months you've each become a special part of my "virtual" life online, and I wish each of you lived close enough to get together for real.

Eve at Adamswife's Weblog
His Girl Friday at Wellied on Life
Joy at The Joy of Six
Lucy at Diamonds in the Sky and Lucy Creates
Kara at Spiritdoll
(even though you're not blogging currently)
Karen at Journey to Authenticity
Mother of Invention at Spilling Out!
MPJ at A Room of Mama's Own
Peajay at Mórán cainte ar bheagán cúise
Sandy of Momisodes

the Dream at You May Say I'm a Dreamer

Yertle at Smile, Play, Dream
Yolanda at Perfectly Imperfect

The following two awards also came from Mary who is one of the most caring and generous women I've encountered online. Just as she offered this "Toadally Awesome" award to everyone on HER blogroll, I'd like to share it with everyone on mine. In addition, I'd like to use this as an opportunity to bring my Blogroll up to date, so if you're a regular reader and I haven't added you ... please send me email or leave a comment so I can remedy that situation.

Because I use Google Reader, I don't rely on my own Blogroll to find you, but I'd like my readers to be able to find one another. I need your help to make that happen because "I'm not perfect & I know I never will be." Just this past week I posted on Wednesday using "Tuesday" in the title. Sigh! What's more ... no one mentioned it (bless your hearts for being kind, but I do "get by with a bit of help from my friends" as in the Beatles song) so it took me a couple of days to discover and fix the error.

Just because you're passing through today (and have managed to read through all this to reach this final "Cool Cat" award ... this one is for EVERYONE whether or not you've visited before.

I appreciate all who visit here and/or at Sacred Ruminations where I've left another award bestowed upon that blog by Lucy.

So it is that I've saved this final very special award for Mary.
It was given to me recently by Joy, and I kept it for myself initially ... intending to pass it along at the right moment. Methinks this is that moment. In addition to her usual blogging activities, Mary has been sharing bits of information about Canadian Black History during February in honor of Black History Month and advocating acts of Everyday Kindness ... encouraging her readers to do likewise.

For all you do for everyone,
thank you Mary ...
You're truly one in a million!

Thought for today
"You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love." Henry Drummond

Haiku Friday - Volume 13 An Unexpected Surprise

Just two days ago
Molly found a little friend
in her own back yard.

Tiny Beagle pup
through the fence did crawl to play.
Lost and hungry pooch

stayed with us until
next door neighbors did arrive
home. To my dismay

no one recognized
active little puppy so
we all launched a search

figuring someone
had to be around who'd know
where the pup belonged.

Darkness fell with no
luck in sight ... and Molly grew
tired of this "pest"

playing with HER toys,
chewing on her sheepskin bed ...
Like an "only" child

Molly's jealousy
made it difficult for me
to maintain the peace.

After several hours,
MANY phone calls later a
frantic call came through.

Joyful, everyone
was relieved this ended well.
As the couple left

I suggested they
get a "tag" on their way home
so that when the pup

managed to escape
next time (as he likely will)
we can call direct!

Beagles I have owned
in the past delighted in
mischief of this sort!

Molly's happier
now that the "intruder" has
left her home in peace.



For a Mr. Linky to other Haiku Fridays
go to A Mommy Story.

Click for Haiku Friday Volume 14.

To see my previous Haikus,
click on the Haiku Friday label below this post.

Click for a Follow-Up 'Ku
Volume 33 - Baby Beagle Update

Thought for today
"Education is more than filling a child with fact. It starts with posing questions." D.T. Max

Thursday Thirteen #12 - Healing Beliefs

Happy Valentine's Day
to everyone!

Thirteen Basic Beliefs of Louise Hay

Since I shared a sampling of healing affirmations from Louise Hay's book YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE in last week's T-13, I decided to share some points of her philosophy today for your consideration. When confronted with such ideas initially, my mind resisted argumentatively ... but over time I've come to accept the possibility that I might be wrong in some basic assumptions I hold about life so that these days I have "a little willingness" to "suspend my disbelief" long enough to test them out. I'm frequently surprised by the little miracles that follow such actions on my part, and am healthier today that I've ever been. A few of them still give me pause, but I've come to embrace fully numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 ... while allowing the others remain possibilities for now.

Here they are for your consideration:

1. We are each 100% responsible for our experiences.
2. Every thought we think is creating our future.
3. The point of power is always in the present moment.
4. Everyone suffers from self-hatred and guilt.
5. The bottom line for everyone is, "I'm not good enough."
6. It's only a thought, and a thought can be changed.
7. Resentment, criticism and guilt are the most damaging patterns.
8. Releasing resentment will dissolve even cancer.
9. When we really love ourselves, everything in our life works.
10. We must release the past and forgive everyone.
11. We must be willing to begin to learn to love ourselves.
12. Self-approval and self-acceptance in the now are the key to positive changes.
13. We create every so called "illness" in our body.

Thought for Today
Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor ... let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eye, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting." Mother Theresa

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Get the Thursday Thirteeen code here!

For easy access, I’ve listed more T-13 links along with the
Thursday Thirteen Blogroll to the bottom of my sidebar.

To see more of my T-13s ,
click on Thursday Thirteen in labels below.

Tuesday - Thanks, Thoughts, Talk, and a Tag on a Wednesday (Guess I had a Senior Moment?)

Thanks
Joy surprised me this morning with this lovely award
and some delightfully kind words at Joy of Six
I am most humbly grateful and
appreciative.

Thoughts
Yesterday at the Dream Life, LoriLyn shared Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration from the Big Happy Buddha, and today I share the following quote with you from the same source.

"All People and things are interdependent. The world has become so small that no nation can solve its problems alone, in isolation from others. That is why I believe we must all cultivate a sense of responsibility based on love and compassion for each other." Tenzin Gyatso

Talk
For a few weeks now, I've found myself rethinking my online activities as I try to balance my life in the real world with the "virtual" one of the Blogosphere. In the last couple of days, I've reorganized my sidebar so that Small Reflections and Sacred Ruminations look more like they did when I started ... before I serendipitously added NaBloPoMo and Blog 365 badges, Holiday Decorations, and my Award collection.

In addition, I've updated the "About Me" section (located in my sidebar just below the "giraffe" in Taos, NM photo) to reflect my current status as a blogger and I've added "links" to posts that provide information for new visitors about who I am and what my blogging is about. Doing this is helping me refocus my priorities and intent, though I suspect things will be in flux for a while and I continue to think things through and experiment with possibilities.

Tag
Yesterday I was tagged by Jientje for a simple book-related meme that's sweeping the Blogosphere like a virus. It reminded me of similar, but slightly different Meme with No Tagging Necessary (definitely MY kind of meme but not necessarily for everyone) that I saw a couple of weeks ago, so I'm taking liberties (as I so often do because following arbitrary rules goes against the grain these days) changing the rules a bit today.

Call me perverse, but I'd rather see your responses in comments here. If you'd like to be "tagged" to do something similar on your blog, consider that done ... and if you let me know with a link back here, I'll be happy to visit and participate on your sites too.

Directions:
1. Go to the current book you're reading.
2. Go to Page 161.
3. Locate 5th sentence, then copy the next 3 sentences into comments below.
4. Tell what book it's from and (if you wish) add whatever information you feel is relevant for context.

So ... here's my excerpt taken from Chapter 9 (on transforming your "personal"story) in THE VOICE OF KNOWLEDGE by Don Miguel Ruiz with Janet Mills:
"And the faith you invested in that belief is stronger than the faith you have available to change that belief. That is why it's important to practice recovering your faith with little beliefs. Then you can go for the stronger beliefs.

I know you've got a book somewhere,
so open it up and share.
It could be fun!

Natural Highs

Mother of Invention recently passed along this list of "Natural Highs" at Spilling Out! Apparently the list was started by a friend of hers who suggested everyone add something to the list and pass it along, so that's what I'm doing today. I invite you to do likewise if you wish.

1. Falling in love

2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.

3. A hot shower.

4. No lines at the supermarket.

5. A special glance.

6. Getting mail.

7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.

8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer

11. Milkshake (any flavor).

12. A bubble bath.

13. Giggling.

15. The beach.

16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.

17. Laughing at yourself.

18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you

19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

20. Running through sprinklers.

21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.

23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS

24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.

26. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).

27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

28. Playing with a new puppy.

29. Having someone play with your hair.

30. Sweet dreams.

31. Hot chocolate.

32. Road trips with friends.

33. Swinging on swings.

34. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.

35. Making chocolate chip cookies.

36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.

37. Holding hands with someone you care about.

38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.

39. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.

40. Watching the sunrise.

41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.

42. Knowing that somebody misses you.

43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.

44. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

45. Hearing a loon’s call!

46. Waking up and seeing your cat's big eyes looking at you.

47. Being at a hockey game and having your team play well and win their game.

48. Walking on the beach barefoot with a canine friend who loves to play fetch.

49. Getting lost in a wonderful book!

50. Sharing a pleasant memory or event with someone.

You're invited to
add one (or more) and pass along these
Natural Highs (or not) as you wish!

Thought for Today
"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." Langston Hughes

Monday Musings

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust

It's the 2nd Monday of the month, so I'm off visiting with my "retired teacher friends" today. I've posted at Sacred Ruminations this morning already, and hope you'll click the link to read the information I've shared, give it some thought, and pick up a "Blessings award" to post on your blog & share with your readers.

If you took the weekend off, my posts on Saturday & Sunday were informal updates about daily life and connections with a few quotes and a "Share the Love" award ... so check them out if you wish. I'll return later to add more if time permits.