Got the Winter Blues

Today is an 'off' day for me - i'm not quite sure why.  Perhaps the position of the moon, or the stars or that my stockings are twisted or maybe even that i'm low on chocolate.  It probably has nothing to do with the endless cold, the wind, the long commute and dark days without snow.  No, i'm sure that has nothing to do with it at all.  i mean, common, snow already!  So today is blah.  i dreaded the long ride here to work and now that i'm here, i don't want to drive all the way back home.  So either i need a chauffeur or i need to just get over it?  Yeah, i'm rooting for the chauffeur too.

So...i bought a new bag.  Plum coloured.  Slightly larger than my normal bag but ya know what?  It's pretty.  Really pretty.  And that has helped.  i promise i'm not so shallow that a bag changed my mood, but when you place pretty things in your life, it does help take the edge off of rising gas prices, no real good Presidential candidate (be honest...none of them are stellar...neither party...), bleak days and long nights, rising costs of much and, oh, let's not forget the small leak in my roof.  Yes! i need pretty. 

Pretty reminds you that warmer and brighter days are ahead.  Pretty helps you widen the narrow grey approach to life and embrace warmth and colour.  Pretty also helps you to take a deep breath, hold on for dear life and declare that you WILL make it this winter.

It doesn't have to be a bag or shoes (mmmm...shoes)...it can be the sweet brown eyes of a child (what is it about brown eyed little boys that just grabs my heart?  At my second job - the retail one - last night - two brown eyed boys, so patient and good, looking up at me and i could've scooped them up and loved them forever.), the warm embrace of your husband or wife, holding hands with an aged one (my Pop-Pop is 90!), laughing, hot bubble baths, slowly paging through Vogue, spending time in prayer, singing, looking at pictures, a nap...to name just a few.  Or if you're a guy -maybe a good game on TV or a book or even watching Godfather movies will do it for you (though i daresay that Men are so less "high-maintenance" in this area...)

Surround yourself with pretty today.  Go on...it has helped me (and believe me, i was in a F O U L mood today).

 

A Real Man

Not too long ago, i attended the local Expo where a Sportsman Thing-y was held (yes, thing-y is the official title...ahem..).  Let me just say: Wall to wall testosterone!  Had i known it would be like that, i would've worn the tiniest little skirt with heels and a frilly blouse and had wide eyes and said.."Did you shoot that boar/elk/deer/bear/alligator ALLL by yourself, Mr. Hunter?"  As it was, i didn't but still enjoyed the atmosphere.  It was quite alot of fun and i highly enjoyed the Birds of Prey show.

As we were leaving, i was with two of my sisters and we headed towards the outside doors.  A Man went in front of us and held the door for us.  That wasn't unexpected as we were right behind him.  However, unlike the normal, he didn't let it fall back on my outstretched hand but rather stood to the side and completely held the door open for us.  We all said 'thank you' and i really meant it.  It is unusual, in this country, for a Man to do that - most times because women 'can do it by myself' and don't care for such chivalry.  However, i fully enjoyed it and it made me feel...well...like a woman.  i am quite capable of doing many things 'by myself.' i am a strong woman, can carry heavy loads, can do lots...and like doing it too.  But there are times when though i can do something, it's nice to not have to do it. 

So thank you, Mr. Man, for that small gesture.  It made my day.

 

 

oh and ps.  Russell Watson's voice is WAY better than Josh Grobin...check him out.

For the love of shoes

i almost had a slight tizzy the other day when my mother said calmly that she just doesn't get excited about shoes.

She, my flesh and blood..the one who nourished me for 9 months in the womb and then lovingly cared for me after i was born.  She who dressed me and played house and coloured with crayons.  She who taught me how to be a good homemaker and how to fold laundry properly and how to love the earth and the feeling of dirt between your toes.  She who scolded me until i practiced the piano the correct way and who praised me without fail when i had done it right.  She who would leave secret thank you notes in my room when i had helped her with entertaining or some other job.  She....who is my hero..doesn't understand shoes?

i think there must be some mistake. 

i might need a new pair of shoes to help me over this mini-crisis in my life.

::sigh::

OOPS!

The other day at my second ( or is it third) job, i inadvertanly phoned 911...twice.  Don't ask - just know i was horribly embarassed even though everyone laughed it off - including the store manager.

However, because it was a hangup - the police were sent anyway just to make sure we were ok.  i vowed to hide in the dressing room should the officer walk in the store but alas, i was front and center when he showed up.

Tall, blonde, blueeyes, windburned cheeks, dressed in his black uniform, looking very.um..good.  i would have swooned had i not tried to think of a way to disappear undere the counter.

He asked if we had phoned 911 and i replied that yes we had, but it was an honest mistake and that all was well.  i then asked if he needed to talk to the store manager and he said 'No', then placed his incredibly large hand on mine and said, "We just like to make sure our business customers are safe."

(Erm...Mr Officer?  With that hand on mine, i feel completely safe!)

All time stood still...i looked at his hand...i looked at him...i felt myself blush and then i said in a very little girl voice, "actually Officer, Sir, it was i who did it."

And he laughed!

He then wished me a good night and vanished into the throng of people.

i certainly wish there had been a trap door under that counter!

Hellloooo 2008

So this is 2008!  Wow, what a blustery start to the year.  Isn't it in like a lion out like a lamb?  oh, wait, that's only for March.  So what if the year starts like a lion - what does that mean?  Does that mean that the year is going to be wild?  Or is it just January and cold and blustery the way January should be?  So many questions...so little time.

Many people make resolutions for the new year.  i don't do that becuase i am notorious for breaking those resolutions by midnight on Jan 1.  Yikes!  So...in an attempt to mature a bit, yet get some needy things done and make improvements i am going to make a To-Do list.  (have i ever told you how much i love, love, love lists???  well grab a cup of java and let's have a chat!)

i've not quite complied it - the to-do list that is, not the java -that was consumed hours ago and i've moved on to tea (four beakers full) and soon to go to water...or whisky - depends on the commute home! HA!

oh where was i?  yes, yes, the list....the LIST  (insert angels singing!) ...so the list...well i hope to complete that by tomorrow and post it for your wondering (and wandering) eyes and minds.  Mostly i want to continue to read literature that is good and well-written, continue to mature gracefully, work on the inner woman (that WILL take an entire year) and improve my eating/health.  i am not setting weight goals nor goals of anykind- but a to-do list will keep me on my toes and accountable for the year. 

Isn't it all fun?  i do love the beginning of the year- somehow things feel fresh and new and i truly wish all a very Happy, Healthy, Safe and Loving 2008.

 

now...i must go write my list!  YAYYYYYYY!!!