Appreciations 4.117

Oh, the brilliance of our bodies! I’ve been feeling for many days now that I’m “doing” to the very limits (and maybe a bit beyond) of my energy… Then, this morning I woke up with a cold. It’s like my body is saying, “Hey, lady! Would you take it easy?! More down, time, ya hear?!” and then since I didn’t listen, it decided to take matters into its own hands. 😛 One curious thing, though…why does my body sound like a New Yorker when it talks to me?? 😉

Wanting a little black cotton skirt for the past couple months, then REALLY wanting one to wear for our last performance today, then going out to Goodwill & Arc and finding exactly what I wanted, easily and for $4.00. Yay!

Our final performance for the year was so much fun! It was so wonderful to look out at the Veteran’s Home residents and other people who came out, and see faces becoming more smiley and more animated as we went along. And I didn’t fall down! I was a little dizzy for the first coupla songs and wasn’t quite sure how it’d go, but then things settled down and the whole rest of the show was pure joy. 💗 Thank you so much for coming to see us, Alison, Sarah, and Ray! That was such a treat for me!!

Appreciations 4.116

The interesting back and forth of thoughts and ideas about what is possible. Some days everything feels possible and some days just getting out of bed seems impossible. Hahaha! Aren’t our thoughts wacky, weird, wonderful things?!

The sweet joy of the Earthtones holiday party. I just love these women! And oh, white elephant, what a hilarious and fun game! I love watching someone’s face light up over an item someone else was ready to let go (or never wanted in the first place). And so fun to see which are the hot ticket items… like the Irish Writer coaster set! 😀

Driving home along the creek and looking at all the lights. So pretty!

Appreciations 4.114

Another yummy morning singing with my beautiful Earthtones. Singing with these women fills me with so much wonder and love. 💗

The joy of getting to sing to some of my people! 😀 Thank you for coming out and making today even more joyful, Katie, Cina, Laura, and Sarah! Ida’s dancing had everyone grinning and giggling!

A lovely visit with Sarah and Ida. It feels like it had been so so so long… you know, like 2 weeks. 😉 What a wonderful afternoon of reconnecting!

Big evening of resting. I’m learning more and more about my time and energy resource management (much of it from my darling and inspiring friend Pam). Time for bed!

Appreciations 4.109 – change

Woke up this morning having not slept very well, and found that as Pam says, “my cheery was weary” — meaning I was feeling a little more cranky/anxious/depressed than usual. So I did my day, noticing this, but not being overly concerned. So what do I appreciate about that? It gave me the chance to super appreciate my brain! I knew it would find some good stuff at some point.

candy cane cremesMckenzie and I went out to pick up just a couple things at Kowalski’s and while we were there, I found my favorite, most delicious seasonal gluten-free cookies! I hadn’t been able to find them at the co-op where I got them last year, nor online, and had been feeling sad. 😦 But there they were!

And yes, my little brain went to work and got all happy about it. And then it kept on working and decided that really the whole rest of the day leading up to that moment had been pretty good, and it pointed out to me that life really is, in most ways, pretty spectacular. Thanks, brain! 😀

window lightsI am further buoyed by the thrill of having lights up on the fence and around the windows. Pretty pretty pretty lights!

Topping off this very good day was a wonderfully fun rehearsal with women I love. Singing with them fills me up in so many ways!

Hahaha – the fun continues. Thank you, Pam, for your good ideas about wordplay!!….Now I’m thinking of other fun ways to describe my mood this morning…

My sunny felt funny?
My delight took flight?
My jolly’s AWOL-ly?
My sparkle went darkle?
My perky is murky?
My bright’s very slight?
My bubble’s in trouble?
My view’s in a stew?
My elation’s on vacation?
My glee is wee?
My grinning is thinning?
My mood’s got a ‘tude?

Other ideas? I’d love to hear them!!

Appreciations 4.107 – spectacular and sparkly

synchronized-parallel-parkingWhat a sparkly day! One of those days when I am truly astounded by how lucky I am. First, I got to witness the most AMAZING thing as I was driving around looking for a parking spot before the concert today. Synchonized Parallel Parking!! Three cars backed into three parking spots, each separated by a parked car (I made a diagram so you can see what I mean. And yes, I am just that big of a geek.) at EXACTLY the same time. Same angle, same timing. Unbelievable! I can’t even begin to tell you how lucky I feel to have seen this happen. It was miraculous! 😀

Then the day got even better. We had the most wonderful show at ASI! The space was a gorgeous place to sing and we sounded (if I do say so myself) fantastic. The audience was smiling and dancing in their seats, clearly enjoying it and it was utterly, soul-fillingly, brilliantly blissful to sing with these wonderful women. It was all I could do to keep from weeping during Star of Wonder. So so so good. 💗💗💗

And after all this amazing goodness, I got to round out my day with a great visit with my mom and dad (I hope you get better soon, Mom!) and a really fun conversation with my brother Jeff… who is moving here in a few weeks! All in all, one of the very best days. I am incredibly grateful for my shining life. ✨ 🌟 ✨

Appreciations 4.106

Super fun coffee date with Laura yesterday! It’s so great to have her living in the same town! 🙂

Really busy work week. Busy doing work I love for clients I love who are each doing something I really believe in. Pretty awesome! 💗

IMG_3683Driving home around the lakes. I was feeling pretty beat from a long day, but then looked across Lake Calhoun and saw my beloved city. It took my breath away.  My phone camera doesn’t do it justice, but you get the idea. 😉

Looking forward to singing with the Earthtones at ASI tomorrow! Come see us! 😀

Appreciations 4.95

I so appreciate all the time my dad & brother took installing the new storm door. They are so generous with their time, energy, and expertise!

Meeting clients at my favorite coffee shop. There are so so so many reasons I love my work!

Exciting rehearsal with the Earthtones – just one more rehearsal before our December shows start.  🙂

Appreciations 4.94: Breathtaking Beauty

Luxurious and unstructured morning for drawing and listening to my audio book. So nice to have some down time during which rest wasn’t required. 😛

An exciting afternoon of writing. I started out just tweaking a few worksheets I’ve developed to use with clients the past year or so and found myself writing, um, the introduction and first chapter of my book. Apparently. 😀

Simply stunning Nordic Contemplative service. I’m generally not much of a churchgoer, but the music and the prayers were perfect in every way. The stunning sounds from the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle filled me with awe – how could so many wonderful sounds be coming from ONE instrument? Then Peggy‘s unbelievably beautiful kulokks and improvised songs sent chills all over me and filled me up with the most wonderful peace. It was all I could do not to sit there weeping. I told her it’s a good thing I don’t live with her because I would ask her to sing all day every day! 😉

And then the joy, oh the joy, of singing with my beloved Earthtones again. What an utterly blissful experience. I know a LOT of words…and yet, am at a loss to describe the breathtaking beauty of the evening. 🙂

Appreciations 4.88

A day with plenty of energy. Yay! Enough to get some really good work work done, and some really good rehearsal prep work, and then to get through another excellent rehearsal! After yesterday (I crashed on the couch for the entire evening after rehearsal and yard work ), I was feeling a little discouraged…but then today, I had all the energy I needed. Even got the kitchen cleaned up. Hooray!

Singing. Oh, what fun it is when we get to this part of the season when most of us know most of our parts on most of the songs. 😛 Peggy is so patient and wonderful. I am so happy to be singing with these fine ladies again. ❤

snail card 300x300More drawing fun. I like how pleased I am with myself…like a little kid. 😉 I made a get well card with a snail on it for Pam who likes snails. It was so much fun to do!