Monday, almost September

and Philip is here installing my new vanity (finally) in the guest bath. Easier said than done, don't think he believed it would turn into an all day job. Redeeming feature, I know it's going to look nice. It's amazing through all of my home improvements this year, you finish one and another one needs doing. And 99% of these have been strictly because I've wanted to enhance my enjoyment of the condo. I love the kitchen window, the fireplace, the patio, my wonderful master bath and of course lower level. It was certainly a lucky day for me in 2006 when I found my condo.

Today's thought from Anatole France "A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance".

It's Sunday, August 31 and here is #4 Gray Matter

It's Sunday and it's time for another Gray Matter. This particular article was published twice in the WSJ. April 1979 and August 1985. For this message, United received 13,320 letters and mailed 50,315 reprints.

Hopefully you are enjoying these Sunday articles. It is a nice reminder to me of the person who sent me the book and also it brings forth thoughts of "things to do". Enjoy...

I Remember

I remember November 22, 1963 and now I remember August 27, 2009. Touching times for our country. RIP.

More Decorating Divas pics...

Decorating Divas do lunch.....

One of the most fun groups I belong to is the Decorating Divas. We have speakers, go shopping, and never need an excuse to have lunch. Once a month we get together and enjoy the fellowship of being together. Our speaker this month was an interior designer. She has been a member of the Montgomery/Conroe/April Sound area for many years and introduced us to the idea of colour in our homes. Chef Paul once again wowed us with a delicious luncheon, he just keep getting better and better. After lunch, I returned home and surveyed my domain and decided I had indeed done a good job.

Saturday's thought from Lane Olinghouse "Those who flee temptation generally leave a forwarding address."

It's TGIF

Yesterday was great, I actually stayed home, worked on patio, cleaning, pruning, re potting a bunch of plants. Then I did my grandmother's version of cleaning, "a lick and a promise". Everything does look and smell (think Lemon Pledge) nice and clean and I was tired but a good tired. Today I'm off to the Decorating Diva group. We are staying close in the neighborhood, having a speaker about "colour" in your home (no prob there, I've got the corner on that) and then to the club for lunch. Picking 2 of my friends up for the fun. The ASLA (April Sound Ladies Association) has really been very good for me, it's enabled me to make a great deal of acquaintances and some nice new friends. I especially feel at home now in Montgomery when I go places other than club activities and see people outside of the neighborhood. It's a feeling I've missed since leaving my large circle of friends, acquaintances, etc in H'town. I was used to always knowing someone somewhere. Montgomery is definitely becoming home!

Today's thought from Henry David Thoreau "Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new"

Today is the ASLA luncheon and I'm busy but

thought I had time for this one piece of info -

on August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Consitutution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was declared in effect.

Thank you for this priviledge.

Once again I find the month flying by and

wondering where does time go. And why so fast? Recently I had the thought "how did I get to be here so fast"? Thinking about age and a comments by 2 different friends about feeling "old", it made me start thinking about age and that word, OLD. I've always felt that age is a state of mind and as long as one thinks inwardly that they are young, (within reason of course) then they project that feeling in how they interact with folks. I do know some people who are old beyond their years because that is how they see themselves. Granted we all may have our days of ache this or that, especially when we have a rainy day or high ozone or excessive heat. I call those excuse days. Maybe no matter what the weather or such, we are in a funk. Unfunking (word?) may take some thinking about what is making us funkable (word?) deal with it and remember today is a gift and we should look on the bright side and enjoy it.

with those thoughts (strictly my own) I think Cullen Hightower said it best "Wisdom is what's left after we've run out of personal experiences"

Perhaps that is my answer, always keep my options open for change, seeing things in a new light, taking a chance on life......think how smart I one day may be....:-)

It's Sunday, August 23 and it's Gray Matter #3

Keep It Simple - This article appeared in February 1979 and July 1985. For this message United Technologies received 20,926 letters and mailed 99,730 reprints.

This was the first WSJ message and was included in The 100 Greatest Corporate and Industrial Ads, published by Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. Enjoy.

My new toy.................

After many months of off and on again computer service, I gave up yesterday and purchased a Verizon Netbook. It's WONDERFUL! First of all, it's small, great for traveling and weighs in at 2.4 lbs and carrying case makes about another 1/2 lb. It's wireless and is serviced by Verizon. So I have plenty of mega bytes, mega giggggssss and whatever else I need. It's a lifesaver for being able to access the web and everything. I'll try blogging on it in the next few days because BF is busy setting it up to do tricks...:-) Mostly tho, I just love not having to depend on my provider for the big computer...HIp Hip Hip........how cool am I..

Weekend thought for the beginning from Aesop "The smaller the mind the greater the conceit".

BANDSLAM, A grand weekend affair

what an absolutely wonderful weekend. Movie was terrific, music loud and fun, casting excellent....There were about 70ish of us Saturday to see the movie, and at the end we were all standing, clapping, laughing, shouting, crying....everyone in the theater was looking at us like we were nuts. On to the pizza party, delish (haven't had pizza in such a long time- what a treat) and a wonderful cake. All in all, about 100 folks or so were there, including two of the young actors who were in the movie. A long awaited event and we were all so happy to be there. It was definitely a grand weekend and the reviews have been very good. It's not your usual family movie, a definite cut above. I highly recommend it...:-)

BF and I have decided not to head to Alaska tomorrow, I have commitments next week and we were not sure we could return in time. I'll add more in tomorrows blog...Way cool and happy to be home...

BANDSLAM, a lovely movie

that's it folks........................

Hi Ho Hi Ho - it's off to LA I go.....

Leaving tomorrow a.m. for a quick trip to LA to see Kayla and Josh and go to the public screening for Bandslam, Josh's movie. Then party on ......what fun! I'm staying at a cool hotel in a very trendy area...I'll take pics of everything and everyone.

Have a safe, cool and hopefully wet weekend. Thought to ponder while I'm gone,

from Henry Adams "No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous".

Blogging, Blogging, Blogging.................

When I was in high school and taking shorthand (YIKES - that's a very long time ago) the teacher said that when in conversation with other people and you find yourself mentally writing the conversation in shorthand, then you have mastered the procedure. Last night at approximately 2:36 a.m., I awoke because I was BLOGGING! My mind was composing today's blog, primarily because it is blog #182. My first blog was January 12 of this year. With the exception of when I have had to add something that I forgot to a blog, I've been doing this for 7 months. What started out as something to do to stay "with it", I now am always looking for something to take pics of and things of interest to write about.

Going one step further, I believe it has also been my salvation and rehabilitation after last year. It has given me the opportunity to live in the present, to be grateful for my health and to take advantage of each day. Regardless of whatever your reasons may be for reading my blog, I say Happy Anniversary to thee from me and keep reading.

Leaving you with this thought from Quentin Crisp "Treat all disasters as if they were trivialities but never treat a triviality as if it were a disaster".

New Bed

Finally, I've been wanting/needing a good nights sleep for over a year. When I returned from the hospital/rehab last August, I had inherited my Mother's new Tem Pur Pedic bed. Unfortunately, the bed and I never reconciled and for every one night of almost a good sleep = 5 or 6 bad nights. Having occasion to sleep elsewhere several times in the last year, I had wonderful nights on regular innerspring mattresses. Enuff said, I purchased a new mattress and box spring last week. HEAVENLY! Even tho I had to buy new sheets, bedspread, etc. it was absolutely worth it...First night was not exactly grand, but not bad. The next night was great and it has been getting better and better. For the last 3 nights, I slept from 11:30 p.m. until 7:30 a.m. without getting up or awaking because I was not asleep well. Hallelujah! Mission accomplished and I'm living like a queen.

Thought from Oscar Wilde "Illusion is the first of all pleasures".

FYI -

re: Gray Matter - sorry, forgot to mention this article appeared in the WSJ January 1983.
United Technologies received 12,700 letters and mailed 35,074 reprints.

It's Sunday,August 8, here is the second

GRAY MATTER - enjoy....

Lots to talk about................

1) Bandslam premier Thursday evening. Very exciting, red carpet, etc. I get to go to the screening and party next week. Hooray! Initial reviews were very complimentary....wtg Josh & Kayla.

2) COMPUTER is now up and running. For how long is any one's guess. Service person here this a.m. did his thing, I left for about an hour, returned and damn it, down again. Quick call, they got me up and the service person should return today again.

3) ASLA Gals Night Out yesterday. We saw Julia & Julie - it was terrific. Acting excellent, food naturally looked wonderful and it was a very enjoyable yet funny show. Then off to ASound Club for a French dinner prepared by our Chef Paul. YUM!!! The company was great and we all had a great time. Unfortunately, the light in the club wasn't good and my pics didn't turn out well. oh well. sigh....

4) Once again, hot and hot. Maybe a shower this evening.

5) Today's thought from David T. Wolf "Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows".

6) Weekend going fast, enjoy and stay cool.

It's Sunday, August 2 and here is the first

"Gray Matter" published by United Technologies, this particular one was printed in April 1985. I hope you enjoy it; however, if it will come out upside down, just print it out and you can not only read it you can save it for future thoughts.

I hope you enjoy it and maybe next week my scanning technique will improve.