new for us

The Women's Blog Directory has a variety of women doing all manner of things and writing about it.
I have to go look at houses today (oh yes, sigh, such a chore - not; how lucky am I, I know this) so here are a couple of new sites I found that are fun.

And a soldier chap who makes your daily newspaper reads more compact!

I'll get something up later today.

live every moment with passion

“Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to drawback, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves, too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man/woman could have dreamt would have come his/her way. I have learned a keep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

This is another paste up on one of my boards that I thought to share with you. I love this one. Again, I can’t give proper credit because it’s one of those that I’ve tucked about for so long I have forgotten from whence it came. I share it with acknowledgement to the author and apologies for my lapse of memory.

It is so true isn’t it? I can’t tell you the number of times it has proven true for me. I am a bit, just the tiniest bit – really I don’t need the medication, a perfectionist and rather zealous competitor, which has led me more than once down the path of procrastination. If I can’t do something that’s splendid then I fear to begin, or once begun, fear to finish. So I keep the above to read along with my most favourite, the words that have helped me many times put word to the page - by Hemingway, “The first draft of anything is shit so you may as well write it.”

I imagine this is on my mind today because in August of last year (2008) I was within shouting distance of finishing my first novel, only the last third to go – and then my life became more romantic and amazing (again, it has happened to me before) than anything I could write – so I stopped. Then came the big and very effective romancing – the trip to Paris, and the move to (of all the places on Earth) Houston, Texas usa. Then the cancer scare, then the surgery. I am now well and almost recovered so back to work I go. I think the interim was a good thing (in many ways not related to writing) in one way concerning my writing, as I am ready to go, my fingertips are itching to get back to it. In the coming days I shall be filling you in (yes Annie and Jenny – finally!) on the events that have led me to my present emotional and geographical environment.

I have to run, doctor’s appointment - with the important questions to ask – like when can I get back to exercise, when can I have my hair done, and other such matters.

Have a great day today my lovely readers. The recent events in Alabama and Germany, along with the uncertainty of everyday, should make us remember to live fully each moment we have. No time for negative people, no time for intolerance, no time for hate, no time for regret or guilt, no time – you get the idea. Get yourself hugged today and return the favour to someone else eh? Smile all over your face when someone you love comes into your line of sight.

Ciao

going on today as well..

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising that forced His Holiness out of Tibet and there are demonstrations worldwide and I will shed some tears. I appreciate the New York Times putting His photograph and the day’s importance on the front page today. It’s a very small world these days my lovely readers, oppression ‘next door’ affects us and our children here, and everywhere.

for fun

You didn’t know…

That I needlepoint did you? You’re surprised aren’t’ you? He he. I don’t consider myself ‘girly’, of course there is a generational definition gap there, but I like my movies to go boom and my literature a bit heavy (Tolstoy, Black Holes and Time Warpss, Cold Zero, Inside Terrorism) or really light (Salvatore, Eddings, Grisham…) and I don’t do many ‘girl’ things (shopping is not a girl thing when you approach it as a planned op; get in, achieve the objective, and get out) but on the other hand I have read all of Jane Austen and Casablanca is on my top ten movies of all time list, right up there with The Dirty Dozen.

I began to needlepoint in 1970 and I consider it the largest contributor to keeping me out of the offices of any and all psychologists and psychiatrists. My best friend, Q’s grandmother, houses my History of Needlepoint Pieces that I have finished over the years, as I have made them birthday, and holiday presents to her for years because she loves the pieces, she just can’t do it. You have to find your own outlet (blowing shit up does the same thing for me, but I have to be located in an geographically hospitable environment, if not – the punching bag will do in a pinch).
Yes it is true, the last time I had to have my knee operated on my surgeon did threaten to test my testosterone levels after I began to run less than a week after the surgery. Hey, like I told him – “I didn’t take the pain medication until after I ran – so I knew if anything was going bleuy.” It sounded logical to me…

I began with simple pieces and wool threads, now I do a lot of cotton and silk. When I have to be confined to bed for whatever reason – I do a piece with gold thread in it – akin to playing tag with a rhino when you are naked and have poor depth perception. Here are a few of the pieces I have about. The “Starry Night” which is mounted on the wall belongs to Q, we had to wait until she settled in one place long enough to have a wall to hang it on! It has quite a legend and it is all written on the back, making it a more interesting piece I think.
The sky has nine different shades of blue in it, and it took me 13+ hours to do the gold. I saved it until I had my knee surgery and knew I would be confined to bed. As it happened there was a 13-hour replay of the Dune movie and television series and wa la!

The Egyptian piece was hand painted for me (all of mine are hand painted, most in London) from a photograph of the coronation medallion of Nefertiti. It was my first foray into using the silk threads – amazing I came out of that sane and without doing physical harm to anyone. The background is in wool, the faces are in silk, and the crowns are in cotton. I’m quite proud of that piece.

J (the story is coming, I promise) says I think like a man but look like a beautiful woman – not a bad resume eh? I’ll take it, and I freely admit that on the majority the thought processes of most women (not all!!!) are beyond my understanding.

All this to share with you something fun.

Ciao

Feast of ice

I saw this exhibit (new every year, duh) a few years ago when I was in Alaska, but I was a few days late and they were a bit deep in snow at the time.

Just take a minute

to go over to the New York Times and read this and leave a comment eh? If enough people express outrage at such shameful behaviour - I don't know that it will make any dent at all but at least it will bring attention to the article and perhaps they will write more and then cause some change. Yes, we all know I am an optimist. In a world with so much misery just now from famine, war, genocide, and the spectrum in between, to economic devastation of countries and individuals I find this behavior insulting personally as a human being and just bloody bad manners.

Spring? really?

How can it be March already? Oh my this year is whizzing by! It may be that spring takes me by surprise located as I am now in the country (oh no I spelled it correctly, trust me) of Texas where the only true winter I had was the week we spent in NYC.

But it is lovely today and I am much improved; all the stitches that are coming out, came out yesterday (ow!) and the other were “clipped” to absorb in their own time. I can stand up straight now, most of the time, and was given permission to walk about a bit more – so that’s all good.

I’m going to be good (no really!) and time myself when it comes to time at my computer, working (I can’t believe how much energy, I mean actual energy, that writing uses) and ease up on full time for at least another week or so – I’m not good, as we know, at the moderation thing. Grrrrr. The fact that I wear out quickly is helpful, as is the falling over and onto the couch.

So here for you today is a little something I have taped on my “wall”. I always carry about and collect new bits and pieces of what I consider brilliant little pieces of advice or observation and keep them on a bulletin board or taped on a wall or cabinet door…

“…that week taught me to honour W.C. Field’s profound statement, ‘IF at first you don’t succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it.’
The thing is, science supports this. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the ability to quit easily makes us healthier – and wealthier – than does leechlike tenacity.”

I would love to give credit but I cut it out of some publication ages ago, and I don’t remember where or even when. I don’t think it should be used as an excuse to give up on a creditable endeavour because it is difficult, but I do think that sometimes you have to say, ‘That isn’t working and find a better way.’

I have to go sit now. ☺

Ciao

Oh, and Happy Square Root Day! The math-buffs’ holiday, which occurs only nine times each century, is today – 3/3/09 (for the mathematically challenged, three is the square root of nine).