Mmmmm..to be a woman

i love being a woman. i love the luxury of a lavendar scented bubble bath. i love using products that make my face glow. i love rubbing lotion into smooth, warm moist skin that is my own. i highly enjoy wearing pretty little nighties (though i never sleep in them - only sleep nude). i love lighting candles and enjoying the strains of Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" while lying in a bed piled with thick blankets atop cool, crisp sheets.

i truly love being a woman.

Out from under my nose...

As i was leaving my house to go to work, i realized that my car was gone.  i parked it yesterday, in front of my house...where i normally park it.  And now.  Gone.  hmm.  So, i called the police..they didn't tow it, it wasn't reposessed (all up to date with payments) so..uh, i guess it was stolen. Police have been here.  Neighbors all up in arms. Insurance company called.  And here i sit.   An unexpected day off?  grrrrrrrrrrrrr

A Girl in Paris

i used to live in Paris.  Seriously.  i had a studio flat in a small town on the outskirts of Paris.

Paris, France.

 On my days off, i would take the train to the heart of the city - 13 min ride - and spend the day roaming the streets of Paris.  Eating in cafes.  Walking along the Seine.  Going to the Louvre.  Riding the metro.  Finding the few (but wonderful) English bookstores and spending hours in them.  Sitting in Parks and enjoying the sun as i munched on cheese and a bannette.

 Paris.

When the children didn't have school, we would often go to the park for an entire day.  Packing a picnic lunch, taking books to read, playing and running around the bushes and the hill...

Stopping at the Patisserie and buying Pain de Chocolat for the children's (and my) goutet.

Paris.  i lived there.  i made friends with all sorts of folk.  i shopped in Continent and Auchan and our little grocery and also the market on Wed and Sat. 

i used to live in Paris.

High Tea and Compliment

Last Saturday, my au pairs, their host moms and my own mother and i went to a  local tea room just to spend some time together and to enjoy a bit of elegance.  The place where we dined had all of the potential to be a very elegant place, however, because of either lack of care, or good taste, it was more shabby chic than elegant.

my sweet Mother gave me such a high compliment this morning ...she said she had been thinking about that tea room and thought that if i owned it, it would be a place of elegance, high class but yet not too 'stuffy'...(WOW..thank you Mom)

She also said, with a smile in her voice,  "...and you would not have served High Tea whilst wearing pants!  Humph!"

(true)

Girlie Girl

i grabbed my nail polish to bring to work with me because my finger nails needed one more coat and i had to leave - no time.  As i was speeding down the highway, i attempted to apply another coat, but that wasn't working so well.  So...at the fist 'pull off' i did.  Zip! Off the road, put another coat of pretty pink polish on my nails, and ZIP! right back on the road  -not long at all but i knew by the time i arrived at work, it would be dry and no one would be the wiser for my silly antics.

When i told the story to a co-worker, she said i was the girliest girl she knew.  Maybe so, but my nails look pretty dang good!

As a side note:

Happy Valentine's Day to all.

Coming Out Party

Scene: Tupperware Party

Place:  My house

Guests: Fifteen women, giggling and fun.  We were asked the different types of party themes you can have with a Tupperware party.  "Book, Auction, Naughty Nighty..etc."

my sweet mother pipes up, "A coming out party!"

Dead silence followed by gales of laughter as she realizes what she's said.  She was thinking "Sweet 16 /Coming Out/Debut"....we were thinking "Coming Out of the Closet..."

She's very pretty when she blushes 20 shades of pink....whilst laughing heartily.

 

Beautiful Freedom

The voices from the next office - haltingly as the speaker's words are translated into English have lulled me into a nice sense of peace.  i'm was getting my work done and not paying attention at all, just enjoying the Russian being spoken and the thick accented one doing the translating.

Then..just now..my ears perked up as the conversation changed to WWII and how that impacted Russian churches.  "All the men were thrown in prison...only the ladies remained..."  "We saw bodies floating down the river on a daily basis....shot by the police..."  "Churches could not meet...in the entire Soviet Union..."  and on and on.

i stopped what i was doing and just listened.  i've never experienced that.  If i want to go to church, i go.  If i don't, i don't.  If i want to try a different church every week, i do it.  If i never want to go, i don't.  Freedom.  i can choose.  i'm not thrown in prison if i go to a church.  i'm not harassed by the police or the government.  i have freedom.

i'm still listening to their conversation.  i am in awe and so thankful for this country.  i am thankful for those who gave (give) their lives so that i can make the choice.  i am in awe of this beautiful freedom.

Sweet sixtenn

Sixteen yrs ago, today, a young black woman went into premature labor and gave birth to a 2lb, 9oz little baby girl.  Sixteen yrs ago, today, that baby was poked and prodded and given all sorts of medical treatment, was flown to a trauma hospital, was put in a special crib, was abandoned by that black woman - her mother.  

This morning, a 16 yr old, bi-racial, beautiful young woman, sang a solo in church.  She stood tall and strong, her lovely face lifted, her voice amazing and pure of tone.   That 16 yr old young woman is my adopted sister.  i was and am so proud of her.  i am thankful to God for allowing her to make it past 2lbs 9oz and also for bringing her to my parents and our family.  

To say my heart is full - is an understatement of epic proportions.

A birthday thing-y

MAY:
Stubborn and hardhearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children.
Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

Ok...here's my response:  Everything is correct except:  NOT hardhearted, have never had an ear ache, i can breathe very well - although did have trauma in that area as a young child (age 2), i LOVE being at home, and i am not a spendthrift...

Rain

Rain pelts my bedroom window
City streetswet and glistening
Giggling school girls under umbrellas
Windshield wipers rhythm
All lulling my soul to a sense of quiet and peace.

Beautiful rainy Friday.