T-O-L E-R-A-N-C-E

It is New Years Eve and time to decide what goal I will work on during the coming year ... my "one word" goal.  AND as you can see - I decided to 'scream' my one word in this post's title.

The world and life and rules and right/wrong are not usually black & white (BW), yet somewhere in my life, I lost the grey and started using BW as a measure for good/ bad ... right/wrong ... acceptable/not acceptable and a whole spectrum of ways to judge.  This trait started causing me more angst than than I realized until just recently.  So it took very little thought when it came time to pick the "one word" for 2014.

My tolerance will include patience, of which I usually have in short supply.  My tolerance will include acceptance, letting the grey creep back into my consciousness while pushing out the 'absolute' black and white.

That's my plan anyway.  My new coin phrases will be "it is not for me to worry about" and "does it really matter or make a difference" and mostly, " is it hurting anyone."  My hope is to ingrain these words, these phrases, so deeply into my thought process - that I start to judge less and embrace more.

I have already started working on tolerance since I selected " the word" two weeks ago.  And truthfully - it feels kind of good already !

Here's to a 2014 in which we all find ways to bring ourselves a little more inner peace which along the way will be passed on to others too.

Best Holiday Gift So Far

As much as I adore Spike, having a dog can be disruptive when trying to live a spontaneous life.  Earlier this week, Mom offered to take Spike on Friday and Saturday.  May not sound like much - but to me it is liked a paid holiday vacation!

Well - it is now Saturday evening and I am ashamed to say that the last thing I want to do is to pick-up Spike and bring him home .....

Sorry little guy, I am definitely a cat person ! =^..^=

THIS IS AWKWARD

This an attempt to write a post from my Blackberry Curve with a very very small screen ....

I would not recommend trying this ...

Spike's New Abercrombie and Fitch

A few weeks ago, I went to the Salvation Thrift Store in Schenectady, as the Latham store has had slim pickings since new management took over.

I walked out with two really nice wool sweaters (light blue Abercrombie and Fitch turtleneck and a pale yellow cable from Scotland).  I immediately threw them in the wash on HOT to shrink them - making the wool thicker and denser.

Today I sewed two dog sweaters for Spike.  He loved the yellow cable I sewed first and wore it all afternoon.  Later, I made him a sweater out of the light blue A&F and put it on him to see if it fit.

The little guy must of known he was wearing a "name brand" and it must have been comfortable, because he did not want to take it off.  He even chased the cat when Hamilton tried to check out Spike's new outfit.  He did look quite GQ - Ralph  - just plain dashing.

Check him out !!  Love that dog ..... he missed his calling as a canine model : ) 

"Love Actually"

Merry Christmas

I am getting ready to put another holiday to rest, but not before I open a bottle of red wine and put my favorite holiday DVD in the TV.

"Love Actually" is my go-to 'feel good' movie ... not just for the holidays.  When I want a good laugh and a good cry ... this is it.

Must run .... the evening is starting to slip away.

Christmas Eve & My First Blog Post of the Year

2013 is wrapping up.  This is my first blog post of the year - mostly due to the absence of Internet in my home and a laptop that I have had to slowly nurse back to health - (and even now that "health" is still compromised.)

That being said, it is my hope to become a bit more diligent in keeping up with the quirky adventures in my life.

Here is to new beginnings .....and a little bit of discipline.